Saudi prince's aide jailed for New York rape

A member of a Saudi prince's travelling entourage has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a woman in a New York hotel two years ago, it was reported here.

Mustapha Ouanes, an Algerian construction executive, said the sex was consensual when he invited the 26-year-old woman and a friend to his Plaza Hotel room in January 2010 after a night of bar hopping, promising them a lavish breakfast.

Both women testified to eating, drinking and smoking hashish with him before passing out, one of them on Ouanes' bed, Daily Mail reported Friday.

When she woke up, he was raping her, they said.

Ouanes, who is married for 40 years, said the women offered sex for money and invented the rape allegations after he declined to pay.

He spent half of his time assisting Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, son of late King Fahd, who had been residing in the Plaza at the time. His wife appeared in court during the trial in January, the Mail said quoting the New York Times.