Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / UK
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

16:31 GMT, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 17:31 UK

Woman arrested for 'sex on beach'

Map of Dubai

A British businesswoman is facing up to six years in a Dubai jail after she was allegedly caught having sex on a beach.

Michelle Palmer was arrested on 5 July, along with another Briton believed to be a male tourist.

The Foreign Office confirmed that two British nationals had been arrested and the case was under investigation.

The Sun newspaper said Ms Palmer had been charged with having sex outside marriage, indecent behaviour in public and being drunk in public.

She was also reportedly charged with assaulting a police officer after the alleged incident on Jumeirah Beach.

'Panicking'

Ms Palmer faces a sentence of between three months and six years, but told the Sun she fears the authorities will give her the maximum sentence as an example to others.

"We are in so much trouble and my family and everybody are affected," she said.

"They are being pushed into a corner to make an example of us. I'm panicking."

Ms Palmer is believed to be a manager at a magazine publishing firm in Dubai, one of seven states that makes up the United Arab Emirates.

The Foreign Office website states that in Dubai public displays of affection are unacceptable and sex outside marriage is illegal throughout the UAE.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Radio 1 DJ jailed on drug charge (19 Feb 08 |  Entertainment )
Tourists warned of UAE drug laws (08 Feb 08 |  UK )
How Dubai became a headline grabber (07 Nov 05 |  Magazine )
Hello Dubai (07 Nov 05 |  Magazine )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Foreign Office
Country profile: UAE
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©