A man has received a life sentence for kidnapping and raping a Japanese tourist. He was a policeman when he committed the crime. The ruling sends out a strong message that law enforcement officers will not spare any effort to prosecute such criminals, according to Senior Chief Prosecutor Sami Al Shamsi.

His assurances that nobody is above the law is important for the continued success of the UAE as a tourist and investment destination. Unless visitors, residents and companies are confident that the police are effective and everybody is treated equally before the law, they will not feel secure touring, working and investing in the country.

The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime; the law has taken its course. Standard sentences for similar crimes, and which take mitigating circumstances into consideration, will help ensure that at all times the justice system is known to be fair.