A British woman convicted of indecency for kissing a friend in Dubai has begged her lawyer to let her serve her prison sentence so she can “get on with” her life.
Charlotte Adams, 26, previously lost an appeal against her conviction, together with fellow Briton Ayman Najafi, 24.
A local woman had reported seeing the pair embracing passionately, however the pair claim they had merely kissed each other on the cheek.
Adams, who was on holiday, has been sentenced to one month in prison while Najafi, a Londoner who has lived in Dubai for 18 months, will be deported after serving his sentence.
The pair have 30 days to decide whether they want to appeal their sentences to Dubai's highest authority, however Adams said she wanted to serve her sentence and leave Dubai “as soon as possible”, the Telegraph reported.
“I want to go to jail so I can get on with my life,” she said.
“I’m stuck in this country. I can’t work, I don’t have any money. If I appeal and it’s turned down, I’m going to be in exactly the same position as I am now and will still have to serve a sentence.
“I just want to serve the 30 days and go.”
A 38-year-old woman complained to police she had seen the pair being intimate but later changed her story – saying only her children had seen them. The pair say they have never been romantically involved.
Authorities have been unable to contact the woman since arresting the pair, but proceeded with the prosecution.
Adams and Najafi will serve their sentences at Dubai’s Central Prison, understood to be severely overcrowded with up to eight prisoners in a cell.
3 News
source: newshub archive
