Scot sues for £100k over Dubai ‘sex slur’
A SCOTS worker who was jailed for alleged indecency in Dubai after brushing past a man in a bar is now seeking compensation for his ordeal.
Electrician Jamie Harron was accused of sexually assaulting a businessman in a busy bar while on a stop-over in the emirate earlier this year.
Even though he insisted he had simply brushed past the man – a Jordanian called Emad Tabaza – while trying not to spill his drink, Mr Harron spent more than a week in prison alongside murder suspects and violent robbers and faced a string of serious charges.
The 27-year-old was only freed to return home to Scotland after the ruler of Dubai – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al- Maktoum – personally intervened and ordered Mr Harron to be exonerated.
While the case was still going through the courts, the international technology firm that employed Mr Tabaza issued a statement repeating the claims that Mr Harron had carried out an indecent assault.
From his home on the outskirts of Stirling, Mr Harron has now launched a legal action against Neuman & Esser, claiming the conglomerate defamed him by supporting the false allegations.
The Scot – who lost his £80,000-ayear job as an electrician in Afghanistan and spent a further £25,000 of his savings on legal fees – is suing the firm for emotional and financial damage, seeking more than £100,000 compensation.
Last night, Mr Harron said: ‘A multi-million pound company put their name behind false allegations against me, an innocent man, before anything had even been to court. I have been suffering mental distress and haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly for months, for worrying about losing my house and my life-savings, and for worrying about my family – they have been through hell.’
Mr Harron was accused of public indecency, being drunk, and making an offensive gesture at Mr Tabaza with his middle finger.
In the run-up to the trial, Nueman & Esser then issued a statement portraying Mr Harron as a belligerent drunk who sexually assaulted Mr Tabaza repeatedly by putting a hand on his thigh.
Now he is challenging the company with a defamation lawsuit led by lawyer Radha Stirling of the Detained in Dubai campaign group.
She said: ‘Jamie maintains that, from start to finish, Nueman & Esser’s comments were slanderous and demonstrably inaccurate.
‘It is very important for companies to be held responsible for how they use their public platforms.
‘When a major multinational corporation takes sides against an innocent man, there are consequences.’
A spokesman for Neuman & Esser declined to comment.