Dubai, UAE - A couple who claimed they kissed on the cheek in a restaurant while under the influence of alcohol face one month in jail and deportation.
A 24-year-old British man, who works in Dubai, and a 25-year-old woman, visiting from the UK, will appear before the Appeals Court next week, seeking acquittal or reduction of the primary judgment.
Do's and don'ts: UAE Public Decency Law- The Dubai Misdemeanours Court sentenced the Britons to one month in jail followed by deportation for kissing and touching at a restaurant in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
- Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma, who handed out the primary verdict, also fined them Dh1,000 each for consuming alcohol.
- Prosecutors charged the couple with kissing and drinking alcohol, after an Emirati mother claimed her children saw the man kiss the woman on her lips around 2am in the restaurant.
- When the defendants appeared in court they denied kissing on the lips and said they kissed each other on the cheek. However, they pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol.
- Court records said a 38-year-old Emirati woman testified that she spotted the woman walking into the restaurant along with four men.
- "My daughter told me that the accused were kissing on the mouth. Then I spotted them doing so myself. I also saw them touching each other, as they were seated two to three metres away from our table. A number of customers witnessed the scene as well," claimed the Emirati in her statement.
- A forensic laboratory report showed that the defendants had 22mg/dl of alcohol in their blood.
- Sources close to the case told Gulf News that the couple appealed the primary judgment.
Source: gulfnews
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