Scot denies charge of ‘indecency’ in busy Dubai bar
A Scot is facing three years in a Dubai jail for “public indecency” after he touched a man in a bar while trying to avoid bumping into him and spilling a drink.
Jamie Harron, 27, has spent over £32,000 in expenses and legal fees trying to resolve the cultural misunderstanding, which has resulted in him being stripped of his passport.
He spent five days sharing a cell and a single mattress with eight men in a notorious prison, and has been unable to leave the country for three months.
The electrician from Stirling is on bail awaiting trial and lawyers claim he faces up to three years in prison if found guilty of drinking alcohol and public indecency, which he denies.
Mr Harron said: “I am really stunned that it has gone this far. I have witnesses who are willing to present themselves in court, even the bouncer at the bar.
“I cannot believe I am facing these allegations when I followed the laws in their entirety.”
Mr Harron was in Dubai on a two-day stopover while flying back to work in Afghanistan in June.
He was with friends at the Rock Bottom Bar in Dubai when the incident occured.
Mr Harron and his friend had bought their first drink in the crowded bar when he placed his hand on the hip of man to ensure they did not collide and spill their drinks. He claims he was simply crossing the dance floor to avoid confrontation.
Later police arrested Mr Harron who claims he was initially jailed with no idea of the charge. He said a prosecutor later told him that he had been charged with drinking alcohol and “public indecency”.
He said he was left in a “foul smelling” cell in Al Barsha prison with another eight nationalities sleeping on the floor with “one revolting mattress between them all”.
Mr Harron was bailed, but his passport was confiscated so that he could not leave the country.
He was due to attend court last Sunday but claims the meeting was held in private without his lawyers being informed.
“Of course if I had known there was a change in the court date, I would have been there,” he said. “I have been waiting for months to appear and now it looks as though I will be arrested when I go to the hearing. It is completely unfair and I can’t understand how I can be sentencedforfailingtoappear when I was not even informed of the hearing.”
Tourists who consume alcohol at licensed venues in Dubai can still be arrested for having alcohol in their system.
Radha Stirling, of Detained In Dubai, the British based NGO who is leading the campaign to help him, said: “Jamie is under immense pressure and stress.
“Jamie has been advised by his lawyer that he is at high risk of being jailed for a duration of up to three years. It is quite outrageous that he has been held in the country for so long already.”
Earlier this week another Scot, William Barclay, was held in Dubai for three days after being accused of trying to exchange a fake £20 note during a family holiday. He returned home to Edinburgh on Thursday.
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