THE GUARDIAN: A British man and woman were today jailed for three months after being convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach.
Vince Acors, 34, of south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, were arrested on Jumeirah beach in the early hours of July 5, having met that night at a £60 all-you-can-drink champagne brunch.
As well as jailing the pair, Judge Hamdi Abul Kharr fined them 1,000 dirhams (£155) and ordered their deportation after they had completed their jail sentences.
Prosecutors said the pair were seen having sex on the each after being dropped off by a taxi.
But Palmer, who works on [sic] the emirate as a publishing executive, claimed they were "just kissing and hugging".
The pair's lawyer, Hassam Matter, had said witness statements, including one from a police officer, were wrong.
He said medical examinations proved Palmer did not have sex.
Matter said the pair were "upset" by the prison sentence and he would appeal against the verdict. Dubai Beach Sex Lands British Pair in Jail >>> Elizabeth Stewart and agencies | October 16, 2008
BBC: Dubai: Britons Guilty of Having Sex on the Beach
A British man and woman have been sentenced to three months in jail in Dubai after being found guilty of having sex on a beach.
Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, were arrested on 5 July.
The pair had denied charges of public indecency and having unmarried sex.
They were fined 1,000 dirhams (£160;$350) and will be deported after serving their sentences.
The pair were not at Dubai's Court of First Instance to hear the ruling but had been ordered not to leave the emirate.
Their defence lawyer Hassan Matter had insisted they would be proved innocent and said they were upset by the verdict.
"We are making an appeal against the verdict. They have not been arrested and taken into custody yet," he said. Sex-on-Beach Trial Britons Guilty >>> | October 16, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
British Couple Jailed for Sex on Dubai Beach >>> By Ben Leach | October 16, 2008
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