- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
TEHRAN, Feb 13 - A former British soldier has been jailed in the United Arab Emirates, a move that could concern London about recurrent arrests of nationals and affect bilateral relations.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - The British media said on Wednesday that Andrew Neal, 44, had been arrested at his home in Dubai on 4 October for involvement in drug dealing.
The reports said, however, that the former military serviceman, who received 17 medals during 24 years in the army and had been discharged for suffering mental problems during the Afghan war, had been forced to sign false confessions.
A group of legal campaigners, said they had evidence that could show UAE authorities had mistakenly arrested Neal in Dubai, adding that he should be released immediately.
The UK foreign ministry, the Home Office, said it was aware of the arrest and in touch with the UAE authorities over the issue.
The arrest is the third such case involving British nationals in the UEA in recent months. Reports earlier this month said a British man had been arrested for expressing sympathy for the Qatari national team during the Asian Cup football tournaments held in the Persian Gulf country.
The UAE embassy in London denied that the arrest of Ali Issa Ahmad had anything to do with his wearing of Qatari team’s shirt, saying the British man was under custody for wasting police time and making false statements.
In November, UAE authorities said a court in the country had sentenced Mathew Hedges, a British academic, to life in prison over espionage charges. Hedges was released later that month after the UK government threatened the case could harm bilateral ties.
Source: Press TV
Your Comment