Man sentenced to five years in prison while male lover gets 35 lashes

Abu Dhabi: A man will be jailed for five years and his "male lover" will be lashed 35 times after both were found guilty of committing various sexual crimes, ruled the Supreme Court.

The Federal Supreme Court upheld the earlier sentence issued by Al Ain Court of Appeal to a man, identified as M.Z., to five years in jail after being accused of raping another man, identified as H.B., who was also accused of having sexual intercourse with M.Z.

H.B. has been sentenced to 35 lashes and will be deported to his home country.

The men were caught having sexual intercourse in a secluded area outside Al Ain.

M.Z. appealed saying he did not rape H.B., saying they were friends for a long time.

The Federal Supreme Court turned down the appeal and upheld the court's sentence.