Iraqi hotel migrant who raped woman in Kensington hostel while claiming asylum faces years in prison
Iraqi Asylum Seeker Convicted of Rape in Kensington Hostel Faces Prison Sentence
30-year-old migrant denied charges but found guilty after week-long trial
A 30-year-old Iraqi migrant who arrived in the UK by boat is set to receive a significant prison sentence following the rape of a woman in a Kensington hostel. The incident occurred in August last year while he was residing at the Astor Hostel in South Kensington, London.
Yousif Al-Maliki, an Iraqi national, claimed he came to the UK to escape torture in Baghdad. He contested the rape allegation during the trial, but a jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted him today after a week-long hearing.
The court was informed that his asylum application has been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case. His legal team stated that Al-Maliki is a bisexual Iraqi national who acknowledges entering the UK illegally but asserts he was fleeing persecution.
During the trial, evidence revealed that Al-Maliki and the woman had been out drinking in Soho. Upon their return to the hostel, the woman repeatedly declined sexual interest, prompting him to challenge her with a bet that they would engage in sexual activity that day. That evening, he proceeded to repeatedly assault her sexually.
“The defendant then initiated sexual contact, to which the complainant clearly expressed refusal, prompting him to move his hands away,” said Prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler.
Further testimony indicated that Al-Maliki began engaging the complainant in sexual activity, despite her explicit statement that she did not wish to proceed. The prosecutor added: “The defendant was unrelenting however and tried to put his hands under her shorts, to which she said no.”
The assault took place in a 12-bed dormitory. Al-Maliki was remanded back into custody to be sentenced on April 21. Judge Christopher Hehir remarked: “You have been convicted by a jury of a very serious offence. Be under no illusion, you will be going to prison for some time.”
Al-Maliki followed the proceedings from the dock, accompanied by an Arabic interpreter, but the judge questioned the necessity of the interpreter, noting that Al-Maliki understood English fluently. The probation service will assess his dangerousness before determining the final sentence.
