Alleged public kiss lands expat in hot water

Dubai: An Arab man is in police custody and could face deportation after being accused of kissing his girlfriend while they were both in a taxi in Dubai, Police told Gulf News.

A police source from Al Rifaa police station said that the Lebanese businessman working in Dubai, was arrested by Criminal and Investigation police officials recently while he was accompanying his Ukrainian girlfriend in a taxi.

The man - in his late thirties - is being detained at Al Rifa'a police station. He was later transferred to Al Aweer central jail.

The man said he was leaving a hotel in Dubai's Al Rifaa area with his girlfriend. They were sitting next to each other in the taxi. "We took a taxi and I was sitting next to my girlfriend. I was leaning at her showing her a video clip on my mobile phone," he said.

He said that after a few minutes the taxi was stopped by undercover police. "We were asked to leave the taxi. They asked me why I was kissing her in public. They said this is not allowed here," he said.

The man said he and his girlfriend were arrested and taken to Al Rifa'a police station.

Police said that the man and his girlfriend have been arrested for committing an indecent gesture in public.