Couple arrested in UAE for having sex outside marriage

Abu Dhabi - The verdict in their case will be issued on March 15.

A South African expat and his Ukrainian fiancee are on trial at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance accused of having sex out of the wedlock.

Official court documents stated that the couple aged 29 and 27 was arrested towards the end of January after investigations suggested that they were having an illicit affair.

The pair already appeared in court and both denied the charges of having sex outside marriage.

The verdict in their case will be issued on March 15.

The Ukrainian woman claimed to be suffering from stomach cramps and had been rushed to Medeor Medical Centre in Yas Mall before she and her fiancee were taken into custody, said a foreign online media report.

The man's family said to the foreign media organisation that a doctor notified the police when he found out that the woman was pregnant.

The mother of the South African man said the couple had only been engaged for two days when they had been arrested on January 27 following the medical checkup.

The South African man has been working as a life guard at Abu Dhabi's Yas Water World and has been in love with the Ukrainian for many months before their engagement, said the family.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi