Scot in Dubai ‘sex assault’ claim facing jail for booze
A SCOT facing jail over claims he indecently touched a businessman in Dubai has been sentenced to a month in prison for drinking alcohol.
Jamie Harron has been stripped of his passport and faces a three-year sentence over allegations he touched a man’s hip in a bar.
But Mr Harron, 27, has been convicted and sentenced, in advance of his trial for ‘public indecency’, for drinking alcohol in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Harron said he had lost his job over the incident and was ‘in shock’ at the prospect of being jailed.
It came as the businessman who Mr Harron allegedly touched broke his silence to say he only called in the police to ‘de-escalate’ the situation.
Emad Tabaza, a German, claims he was touched on the thigh rather than the hip by Mr Harron, who refused to stop despite ‘polite requests’.
Mr Tabaza, managing director of technology company Neuman & Esser, alleges that Mr Harron had been ‘drunk’ and ‘aggressive’, adding that he would not have involved the police if the club’s security staff had ‘intervened correctly’.
A statement via the company read: ‘Our employee requested to see the manager. The security staff informed him that the manager was not available.
‘Our employee deemed it necessary to call the police. The situation would not otherwise have been controllable, particularly as the drunk suspect took an aggressive stance. Calling the police served to de-escalate the situation.’
Mr Tabaza accused Mr Harron of public indecency in the bar but later withdrew the complaint. The police pursued the charges anyway.
A spokesman for the prosecution service confirmed the sentencing, saying: ‘On the drinking charge, he has been sentenced to a month in jail, fined 2,000 dirhams (£412) and will be deported. His next appearance on the public indecency case is on October 22.’
It is understood Mr Harron’s lawyers have appealed against the sentence.
Mr Harron, from Stirling, claims he placed his hand on a man’s hip so they did not bump and spill their drinks, sparking a ‘cultural misunderstanding’. He denies indecency.
He was arrested following the incident and jailed for five days before being released on bail.
Mr Harron has been stuck in Dubai for three months and has spent more than £32,000 in expenses and legal fees.
He said last night: ‘My lawyers have put an objection in on my 30-day prison sentence which me and my lawyer didn’t even know about.’
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: ‘We are providing consular assistance.’