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British Beach Sex Couple Jailed for Three Months

The Dubai Court of Misdemeanour on Thursday sentenced a British woman and man to three months in jail, followed by deportation, for having sex on the Jumeirah beach and committing an indecent act in public.

Both Michelle Palmer, a former media executive, and Vince Acors, 34, a visitor, will also have to pay a fine of Dh1,000 each for consuming alcohol.

Pronouncing the verdict, presiding judge Hamdi Mustafa Abul Kheir said, “The three-month jail sentence and deportation were awarded as the couple was convicted of having illicit consensual sex and for the act of public indecency. The fine was for drinking liquor.”

Both were not present in the court. They have 15 days to appeal, and a legal source close to them said that they would do so “as soon as possible”. He said he would also demand that they remain free on bail pending the appeal.

Palmer and Acors were arrested on July 5 after they were caught having sex on the beach after midnight. They were charged with having sex outside wedlock, public indecency and consumption of liquor.

The couple had requested the judges’ panel to complete the case proceedings quickly as “they wanted to be over with it as soon as possible”.

The police officer who spotted the duo was supposed to give a testimony in the court.

However, he failed to show up at the court twice. He had told the interrogators at the police station and the Public Prosecution earlier that he was alerted by some beach-goers about the couple’s actions. “I was on duty that night. I was approached by some angry youth who told me about the couple. I brought my torch from the patrol car and went to the location. I found them in an indecent position. I warned them and went away. I returned after a while only to find them indulging in sex again.”

The Criminal Evidence Report, however, did not conclude they had sex. Their urine samples tested positive for alcohol. No defence lawyer was present in the court throughout the trial.

The case has received an extensive coverage in international media.

Send usyour comments

Such acts of indecency should be dealt with more strictness and people should respect the culture and lifestyle of the region. What do you think, have your say

I'm an American, lived all over the world and can tell you that the behavior exhibited by this couple is not acceptable ANYWHERE in the world! I am sick of the media's exaggerated attempts to make this about a culture clash: it's not. It's about aberrant behaviour on the part of people who should have known better. Trust me, they'd have been arrested for doing the same thing in San Francisco, London or any other liberal city. Dubai is the most tolerant and open city in the Middle East - this is not about Dubai! As for Shereen's comments, it wasn't love, it was lust from the bottom of a bottle, big difference. Mr. Acors, going wild on holiday, had a wife at home. They were lucky to have gotten away with only 3 months + AED1,000 fine! – Elan, Dubai

UAE has given much freedom to every national in their country, I saw people especially Muslim girls wearing Abayia covering their whole body, and I also witnessed non Muslims girls even wearing shorts. Although UAE is a typical Muslim country yet it has given freedom under some limits, I support the decision of local court, non-Muslim should show some respect for the law.– Muhammad Aamir, Dubai

Yes, it has to be like that. Nobody is above the law. Western peoples should also realize that there are rules and regulations of living in Muslim country. 2nd thing, if anybody will do anything against the law in the western countries, nobody can put pressure on judiciary or their Governments. Western countries thought that they can cancel any decision in small countries by putting pressure. This attitude needs to be stopped. – Syed Muhammad Faisal, Kuwait

Come on guys. Please have mercy on those couples. They are already going thru hell. I agree what they did is wrong but I’m sure they were not aware of UAE law that unfortunate night. Of course when you’re in love and with your beloved you don’t think of any boundaries. This type of behaviour may be normal in USA and Europe but In UAE this is not allowed. This type of indecency is totally prohibited and punished and we have to abide and respect the country law. I feel the punishment should have been just deportation and some fine. Very rarely you commit mistakes knowing the consequences. i hope you guys agree. – Shereen, Dubai

When an expat moves to a country where there are ceratin rules and laws in respect of a country's religion and culture, it's not more than logical that these laws are followed. I am a European living in Bahrain, and I know the rules here and I follow them. You have to understand that though some Gulf countries are very liberal, there is a limit. I feel They are punished as they should be. – Marijke Fox, Bahrain

If they don't know how to respect the local culture and values, and they cannot control their animal instincts, let them stay where they come from. I think they should have faced with more strict punishment, which will be lesson for others. – Nadeem Ahmed, Dubai

The sentence is too lenient. – Sameer, Dubai

I was compelled to join the fray after I realised that some people were defending the acts of the accused in the sex on the beach case. Yes, Asians have poor representation in terms of support coming from their own embassies, but they are also people who respect the values and cultures of the land that has given them so much. Debauchery by no means can be justified. I mean can you do something like this in Saudi Arabia and get away with it. No, and no one dares do it there. Dubai is a free market enterprise and they have indeed given people the freedom and liberty to live their lives as long as they don’t cross the line. People have got to respect it and if they don't they will have to suffer the consequences. - Joydeep Bose, Ras Al Khaimah

I agree that such acts must be dealt with strictness in order to maintain/secure the cultural values of the region. – Ehsan Ali, Dubai

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