‘Sex on the beach' woman says she wants to to be deported to the UK as soon as possible.
Michelle Palmer is very happy that her five-month nightmare is over. As the co-accused in the now infamous "Beach sex couple" case which made international headlines, Palmer, in a text message to XPRESS, said, "I just want this to be over and go home to my family."
Palmer, along with Vince Acors, another British national, was arrested on July 5, 2008 and charged with consensual sex, public indecency and illegally consuming alcohol.
She was fired from her job in Dubai after the incident. Acors was a tourist.
Both were sentenced to three months in jail and a Dh1,000 fine by the Dubai Misdemeanour Court on October 16. They appealed on October 21. The Dubai Court of Appeals affirmed the three-month jail sentence on Tuesday, but suspended the jail term.
The court also ordered their immediate deportation and banned them from entering the UAE.
The verdict was lenient due to weak evidence.
Palmer has not spoken to the press since the case broke, but in her text message on Monday, before Tuesday's court hearing, wrote, "I haven't spoken to anybody since this all happened and especially not to the UK press who have written so many hurtful things about me.
"It has been nearly five months now. I've been out here with no income and no residence the last two months.
"I just want to go home now and am obviously really scared about the outcome tomorrow."
No deportation date
Palmer's lawyer Hassan Mattar told XPRESS that no date was set yet for her actual departure because there are a number of procedures to follow with the courts and with the police.
"I am to meet with my clients and I hope inshallah it is arranged soon."
He further said, "Michelle is very happy to be finally going home and I am very happy. It is a fantastic verdict and it just proved that the law here is just."
