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Two Dubai expats who were sentenced to three months in jail for allegedly having sex in the back of a taxi last year have had their sentence reduced to two months by an appeal court, it was reported on Wednesday.
Rebecca Blake, a 30-year old businesswoman from Croydon, UK and Conor McRedmond, a 29-year old welder from Tullamore in Ireland, had their three month jail sentence reduced to two months at a Dubai court.
The couple pleaded guilty to drinking alcohol and had their fine reduced from around US$800 fine to US$540, while they continued to refute charges they had sex in the back of Dubai taxi in May 2012.
Shaker Al Shammary, the couple’s Al Ain-based lawyer, said he expected them to be freed at the hearing on Tuesday and the couple plan to appeal the case to the Dubai Supreme Court.
"The medical reports which indicate they did not have sex exonerate them completely," Al Shammary told British newspaper The Telegraph. "Reducing the sentence makes no sense. If they were truly guilty, they would have been given three years," he added.
The couple was arrested when they got into a taxi cab after a 10 hour drinking session and the driver pulled over to complain to a policeman they had been having sexual intercourse.
The case is the latest in which Westerners have fallen foul of the United Arab Emirates' decency laws, highlighting cultural differences as the UAE seeks a balance between maintaining its Muslim identity and catering for a vibrant tourism industry.
There have been several cases in recent years of Westerners accused of violating decency laws in Dubai, the most cosmopolitan of the seven-member UAE federation.
In 2008, a British couple was found guilty of engaging in drunken sexual activity out of wedlock and in public on a beach in Dubai. They were sentenced to three months in prison followed by deportation but had their jail terms overturned on appeal.
In 2010, another British couple were sentenced to a month in jail and fined for kissing on the mouth in a restaurant in Dubai.
The problem with many South Asians in general and Indians in particular is that greed has no limit for them. No matter how much they get, which is often... more
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 10:59 AM - Fahd
In those so called democratic (they should change it to Hypocratic) there is freedom of speech but no freedom after the speech.
When the guys speaking... more
If Boeing can develop a 777 that can fly for 20 hours, then why bother flying through Dubai? Most EK traffic is transfer passengers. 20 hours nonstop would... more
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 5:04 PM - John HarteThe problem with many South Asians in general and Indians in particular is that greed has no limit for them. No matter how much they get, which is often... more
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 10:59 AM - Fahd
@anguilla: Kalba town is part of the Sharjah Emirate.
along with khor fakkan and dibba al hisn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharjah_%28emirate... more
I am wondering why this article is being published here? it is really useless. anyway, I in certain ways agree with the Mufti. god bless Saudi Arabia more
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 9:27 AM - FaisalOrganizations like HRW, Green peace, ILO, UNHCR are so self serving that it is amazing they still exist! they spend 60/70 percent of their budgets (meant... more
Thursday, 30 May 2013 7:53 PM - NavinThe problem with many South Asians in general and Indians in particular is that greed has no limit for them. No matter how much they get, which is often... more
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 10:59 AM - FahdCountinua, women from NIGERIA will put you in their prayers more
Monday, 17 June 2013 5:40 PM - BINTU B M SULE
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