British visitor loses appeal in lewd gesture case in Dubai

Dubai A British visitor, who claimed he was heavily drunk when he flashed his finger at a security officer while partying at the Irish Village, lost his appeal before Dubai’s highest court on Monday.

The Dubai Cassation Court rejected the appeal lodged by the 24-year-old Briton, L.K., and upheld the one month imprisonment against him.

The court convicted him of getting drunk and indecently gesturing in public when he flashed his middle finger at the face of the Palestinian security guard in July 2012.

The accused will be deported and will be fined Dh1,000 for consuming liquor.

The Briton lodged his appeal before Dubai’s highest court seeking to acquit himself.

He pleaded not guilty contending that his drunkenness made him forget what he was doing.

“I consumed alcohol… but I don’t remember what happened then,” argued L.K.

Prosecutors accused the Briton of committing a lewd act in public by flashing his finger when he was under the influence of liquor in Al Garhoud.

The security guard said the incident happened when his co-worker asked L.K. to leave the pub because he was rowdy.

“I overheard the defendant, who is a regular customer, screaming. He insisted on picking a fight with my co-worker, who tried to dismiss L.K. from the venue. Surprisingly, the defendant kicked me for unknown reasons. I restrained him when he tried to beat me. We called the police and informed them what had happened because the suspect insisted on fighting. The defendant called me and my family names… he also cursed my co-worker,” claimed the Palestinian.

Prosecution records said the defendant smelt of alcohol.

The claimant waived his complaint against L.K. after the latter apologised.

The accused claimed to prosecutors that he had consumed six cans of beer when the incident happened. L.K. claimed that he did not remember any foul language he used because he was very drunk.

“I do not remember anything about the incident because I was under the influence, but I might have fought with someone at the place where I got arrested. I guess I cursed the security guard because he kicked me out of Irish Village and he doesn’t like me or any of my friends,” claimed the Briton.

Monday’s judgement has become irrevocable.