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| British men await Dubai court verdict amid accusations of torture | British men await Dubai court verdict amid accusations of torture |
| (12 days later) | |
| Three British men who were allegedly tortured by police in Dubai after they were accused of drug offences are awaiting verdicts in their trial on Monday. | Three British men who were allegedly tortured by police in Dubai after they were accused of drug offences are awaiting verdicts in their trial on Monday. |
| Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, were arrested while on holiday on July 10 last year by police who claimed to have found a quantity of a synthetic cannabis known as "spice" in their car. | Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, were arrested while on holiday on July 10 last year by police who claimed to have found a quantity of a synthetic cannabis known as "spice" in their car. |
| The men, all from London, signed documents in Arabic – a language none of them understands – after being threatened with guns to their heads and in Williams' case, having electric shocks administered to the testicles, the human rights charity Reprieve said. | The men, all from London, signed documents in Arabic – a language none of them understands – after being threatened with guns to their heads and in Williams' case, having electric shocks administered to the testicles, the human rights charity Reprieve said. |
| They have denied charges of "consumption and possession with intent to distribute", and appeared at their first trial hearing in February after spending seven months in custody. | They have denied charges of "consumption and possession with intent to distribute", and appeared at their first trial hearing in February after spending seven months in custody. |
| A Dubai judge is expected to deliver verdicts in the trial of the three men on Monday, the Foreign Office said. | A Dubai judge is expected to deliver verdicts in the trial of the three men on Monday, the Foreign Office said. |
| It called for a full, independent and impartial inquiry into the allegations and has raised them with "very senior officials" in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). | It called for a full, independent and impartial inquiry into the allegations and has raised them with "very senior officials" in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). |
| Ministers will also express "concerns" about aspects of the UAE investigation into the torture claims during the state visit of President Sheikh Khalifa next week, the Foreign Office added. | Ministers will also express "concerns" about aspects of the UAE investigation into the torture claims during the state visit of President Sheikh Khalifa next week, the Foreign Office added. |
| In a draft witness statement provided to Reprieve lawyer Marc Calcutt, Williams described having a towel put on his face by police and having electric shocks on his testicles. | In a draft witness statement provided to Reprieve lawyer Marc Calcutt, Williams described having a towel put on his face by police and having electric shocks on his testicles. |
| The torture took place in the desert, it was claimed, where the men were initially taken after their arrest, and subsequently in a hotel room. | The torture took place in the desert, it was claimed, where the men were initially taken after their arrest, and subsequently in a hotel room. |
| Cameron's mother Tracy has spoken of the "sheer horror" she suffered when her son told her of the alleged torture methods. | Cameron's mother Tracy has spoken of the "sheer horror" she suffered when her son told her of the alleged torture methods. |
| She told the BBC: "They were taken back to their hotel room, they were beaten in their hotel room, it does appear they were separated from each other and each taken to a different room. | She told the BBC: "They were taken back to their hotel room, they were beaten in their hotel room, it does appear they were separated from each other and each taken to a different room. |
| "Karl was laid out on the bed, his trousers were stripped down and electric shocks were administered to his testicles while he was blindfolded. | "Karl was laid out on the bed, his trousers were stripped down and electric shocks were administered to his testicles while he was blindfolded. |
| "I believe all boys had guns held to their head – they were told they were going to die." | "I believe all boys had guns held to their head – they were told they were going to die." |
| Mrs Cameron said she has been told by lawyers that her son was likely to be found guilty of at least one of the charges and could be jailed for 15 years or longer. | Mrs Cameron said she has been told by lawyers that her son was likely to be found guilty of at least one of the charges and could be jailed for 15 years or longer. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes all allegations of mistreatment and torture extremely seriously, and acts with a sense of urgency in all cases. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes all allegations of mistreatment and torture extremely seriously, and acts with a sense of urgency in all cases. |
| "We have been providing consular assistance to three British nationals detained in the UAE since July 2012, and are aware of their allegations of mistreatment. | "We have been providing consular assistance to three British nationals detained in the UAE since July 2012, and are aware of their allegations of mistreatment. |
| "We have raised, and continue to raise, these allegations at the most senior levels in person and through diplomatic channels, including through ministers. | "We have raised, and continue to raise, these allegations at the most senior levels in person and through diplomatic channels, including through ministers. |
| "We requested a full, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations, and have now received some details of a UAE investigation. | "We requested a full, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations, and have now received some details of a UAE investigation. |
| "However, we are concerned about aspects of this and are formally raising these with the Emirati authorities. Ministers will also be raising our concerns during the state visit. | "However, we are concerned about aspects of this and are formally raising these with the Emirati authorities. Ministers will also be raising our concerns during the state visit. |
| "It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the court judgment on April 29. | "It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the court judgment on April 29. |
| "Consular staff have recorded what the detainees told them and their observations, but they are not able to collect formal evidence as they are not qualified to do so. | "Consular staff have recorded what the detainees told them and their observations, but they are not able to collect formal evidence as they are not qualified to do so. |
| "We are therefore working closely with Reprieve to find independent experts who can provide assistance." | "We are therefore working closely with Reprieve to find independent experts who can provide assistance." |
| Cameron and Williams are both from Wanstead, in north-east London, while Jeerh is from Ilford, east London. | Cameron and Williams are both from Wanstead, in north-east London, while Jeerh is from Ilford, east London. |
| The UAE embassy in London refused to comment when contacted on Sunday. | The UAE embassy in London refused to comment when contacted on Sunday. |
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