Dubai: Two forensic doctors are conducting an autopsy on the body of Lee Bradley Brown, 39, a Briton, who died in police detention last week.
The medical report is the second since the incident took place on Tuesday to confirm the reason for the death, Dubai Police Chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim told Gulf News.
"I am sure that no one used force against the dead tourist who was in police custody because he attacked a housekeeper at the Burj Al Arab Hotel on Saturday.
"We tried to bring the man under control. He was outraged and violent with the police and public prosecutor offices," he said.
Only authorised body
Lt Gen Dahi said if doctors came up with a report blaming the police for his death, the person in charge will be referred to the court for trial like in any other crime.
On Thursday, Essam Al Humaidan, Dubai Attorney-General, said the preliminary forensic report ruled out any torture. The formal autopsy report will be issued next week.
"The forensic report attributed Brown's death to asphyxia. The deceased choked on his own vomit. The report also pointed to traces of hashish in his blood and urine samples," Al Humaidan said.
The British Embassy was informed about the arrest of Brown 10 minutes after his arrival in Bur Dubai police station, Lt Gen Dahi said.
The 39-year-old British tourist's death in detention sparked allegations by the British media that he was tortured to death.
Lt Gen Dahi said Brown's death was being investigated by the Public Prosecution, which is the only authorised body to handle such an allegation and give any information about it, adding that "any other statement from police or other parties is outside the investigation range".
"Brown was outraged and created chaos at the police and public prosecution, and all that happened [at the time of his arrest] was just to subdue him, but he died four days after his arrest," Lt Gen Dahi said, adding that Brown was never interrogated by police.
Two more doctors are carrying out a cross examination of the medical findings in Brown's autopsy reports, and his family as well as the British embassy are free to carry out any tests they want after the body is handed over, the timing of which is decided by the Public Prosecution, he said.
As for allegations that Brown was put in solitary confinement, Lt Gen Dahi said this is also decided by the prosecution, not the police.
"When a person dies while in detention, we understand the feelings of his family and we offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences. We also realise that it is their right to react and complain, but the most important point is to find out if this [torture allegations] has really happened and, accordingly, an investigation is carried out by Public Prosecution," he said.
Not hiding
"We have a friendly and transparent relation with the UK. We are cooperating with the British embassy, and our offices and files are open to them, and there is no reason for us to hate British citizens. We informed the embassy 10 minutes after Brown was arrested and we did not prevent anyone from meeting him," he said.
"We are not trying to hide any facts, and British citizens inside and outside the UAE must realise the police of Dubai Police are fair. We give people their rights and hold those who commit mistakes responsible," Lt Gen Dahi said, adding that "our mission is to save and help people".
