Couple charged with adultery after having baby out of wedlock in UAE

Sharjah: A Filipino couple have been referred to court on a charge of adultery after the woman had a baby girl at 28 weeks.

The baby was born after the couple were involved in an illicit relationship, an official at Sharjah police said on Monday.

The baby was born inside a house in Sharjah to hide the secret, the official said.

He added that the Filipino father rushed to Al Qasimi hospital to put his premature baby girl — born at 28 weeks — in an incubator. But the father was shocked when hospital staff asked him to show his official documents proving the identity of the baby.

The hospital staff informed police about the incident, the official said.

The Filipino father confessed to police that he had an illicit affair with the woman from the same nationality, but that he intended to marry her, the official said.

Sharjah police arrested the Filipino couple and they will be referred to court on charge of adultery, official said.

The Filipino couple will remain in jail until their marriage papers are completed and they complete their jail terms, the official said.

The couple will be punished in accordance with Sharia law, the official added.

Meanwhile, the baby, who weighed only 1.7kg, would remain at Sharjah social care centre until her parents finish their jail terms, the official said.