Man faces jail in Dubai for touching another man’s hip in a bar
A man faces jail in Dubai after apparently touching another man in a bar.
The Brit, Jamie Harron, says he briefly touched a man in order to avoid spilling a drink on him.
Harron, 27 was later arrested for public indecency after the incident at the Rock Bottom Bar.
He also faces a second charge relating to the drinking of alcohol.
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The Stirling resident’s legal team have said he has been stuck in the UAE since July because his passport was confiscated by authorities when he was arrested.
His lawyers say he held out his hand in front of him whilst walking through the busy bar to avoid spilling his drink.
That was when he “touched a man on his hip to avoid impact” say his legal team.
The man who he touched was then said to have become annoyed.
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Around half an hour later, Harron was arrested by police but says he was jailed not knowing what charge he faced.
After being jailed in Al Barsha prison for five days, Harron has been released on bail.
But he says being unable to leave the country has seen him forced to spend £32,000 on legal fees and living expenses.
Speaking to Sky News, the chief executive of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, said: “It is quite outrageous that he has been held in the country for so long already.
“This is another example of how vulnerable tourists are to arrest and detention in Dubai and at how drawn out and disorganised legal proceedings are.”
According to Stirling, Harron is under “immense pressure and stress”.
Since being arrested, he has been sacked from his job in Afghanistan.
He told STV: “I am really stunned that it has gone that far. I have witnesses who are willing to present themselves in court, even the bouncer at the bar.
“I cannot believe I am facing these allegations when I followed the laws in their entirety.
“Now it is possible that I will be arrested on Sunday for failing to appear at a court hearing that neither I nor my lawyer, were advised of.”
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She told Sky News: “He was expecting to appear in court this Sunday, but the court moved the date without telling him or his lawyer.
“This led to a sentence of 30 days’ imprisonment for failing to present himself at the hearing.”
According to other reports, a hearing was held in private on Sunday.
The Home Office says it has been in touch with Harron and that it is “providing consular assistance”.
Authorities can arrest in Dubai if a suspect has alcohol in their system even if they drink at licenced bars.
