Brit jailed in Dubai for touching man's hip could be allowed home after complaint dropped
Jamie Harron has been in Dubai since July after having his passport confiscated following his arrest for touching a man's hip.
Friday 13 October 2017 07:31, UK
A British man arrested for public indecency in Dubai could be allowed to return home, his lawyers have said, after the complaint against him was dropped.
Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling, was facing up to three years in jail after in Dubai's Rock Bottom Bar in July.
But the businessman who accused him has now dropped the complaint after learning of the gravity of the punishment facing him.
"With a certain distance from the incident and the punishment to be expected for the suspect, our employee decided to withdraw the complaint despite the harassment having been confirmed by several witnesses," the accuser's employer, Neumann & Esser, said.
Mr Harron said he was moving through the crowded bar holding a drink in front of him, and inadvertently touched a man on the hip to avoid hitting him or spilling the beverage.
Police arrived less than half-an-hour later, his representatives have said, leading to Mr Harron being charged with public indecency.
He was locked up for five days in Al Barsha prison before being released on bail, with his passport confiscated.
The electrician lost his job after the incident, has spent more than £30,000 on legal fees, and has been unable to leave Dubai for three months.
His lawyers have submitted an appeal and say they are "hopeful" Mr Harron will be able to return home, but say a hearing is not scheduled until 22 October.
"I've lost my job, I'm in debt now, I may be going to prison and all this for a two-day stopover," Mr Harron said.
"It's just unbelievable. I'm still in shock that it's actually happened."