UAE | General
Beach sex couple to appeal jail sentence
Court imposes three-month term followed by deportation on British nationals found guilty of public indecency.
- By Bassam Za'za, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:47 October 16, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
- The Dubai Court of Misdemeanors sentenced the pair to three months in jail followed by deportation for indulging in a sexual activity and committing public indecency.
Dubai: A British couple found guilty of involving in sexual activity on Jumeirah beach will appeal their sentence, said their lawyer on Thursday.
The Dubai Court of Misdemeanors sentenced 34-year-old British male visitor, V.A., and his 36-year-old compatriot female, M.P., to three months in jail followed by deportation for indulging in a sexual activity and committing public indecency.
Presiding Judge Hamdi Mustafa Abu Il Khair also fined each of them Dh1,000 for consuming liquor. The verdict is subject to appeal within 15 days.
The couple, who have been on bail during the court proceedings and did not attend Thursday's hearing, are expected to turn themselves in to the Criminal Rulings Execution Section soon after their lawyer Hassan Mattar receives a copy of the verdict and studies the reasons upon which the judge handed down the ruling.
Mattar told Gulf News he will submit his legal response in the appeal petition.
Mattar who sought his clients' innocence earlier argued that the statements of the prosecution witnesses contradicted with the technical evidence.
Presiding Judge Abu Il Khair said in his verdict that according to the forensic reports and statements of the prosecution witnesses "the couple was involved a sexual activity [interaction]". The verdict didn't mention that the couple had full sexual intercourse.
The Criminal Rulings Execution Section is the Dubai Public Prosecution Department's official body in charge of carrying out verdicts.
Meanwhile, UAE laws enable the Public Prosecution to appeal verdicts and seek the implementation of tougher punishments after reviewing the verdicts.
M.P. and V.A., told Gulf News through their lawyer Mattar that they trust the fair judicial system in Dubai and will respect any ruling handed to them.
The Public Prosecution charged the duo with being involved in sexual activity on the beachside when they hugged, kissed, touched each other and behaved like a husband and his wife, indecently gesturing in public and consuming liquor in public.
Is it an individual's responsibility to be aware of a country's culture or norms before visiting it? What preventive steps could be taken to ensure such actions do not occur?
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