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| Dubai jails UK trio on drugs charges after police torture claims | Dubai jails UK trio on drugs charges after police torture claims |
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| Three British men in Dubai who claimed they were tortured in custody have been found guilty of possessing drugs and sentenced to four years in prison each. | Three British men in Dubai who claimed they were tortured in custody have been found guilty of possessing drugs and sentenced to four years in prison each. |
| Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, were jailed for possessing a quantity of a synthetic cannabis known as "spice". | Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, were jailed for possessing a quantity of a synthetic cannabis known as "spice". |
| The men, from London, were on holiday in the Gulf state in July 2012 when they were arrested after police found the drug in their car. | The men, from London, were on holiday in the Gulf state in July 2012 when they were arrested after police found the drug in their car. |
| They claimed they were tortured by police following their arrest, alleging they were given electric shocks and had guns held to their heads. | They claimed they were tortured by police following their arrest, alleging they were given electric shocks and had guns held to their heads. |
| Williams described having a towel put on his face by police and having electric shocks on his testicles, according to Reprieve, the human rights charity. | Williams described having a towel put on his face by police and having electric shocks on his testicles, according to Reprieve, the human rights charity. |
| David Cameron has expressed concern over the torture allegations and pledged to raise their case during a visit to the UK this week by the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). | David Cameron has expressed concern over the torture allegations and pledged to raise their case during a visit to the UK this week by the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). |
| The three Londoners claim they signed documents in Arabic – a language none of them understands – following their arrests because they were forced to at the point of a gun. | The three Londoners claim they signed documents in Arabic – a language none of them understands – following their arrests because they were forced to at the point of a gun. |
| The men had their first trial hearing in February after seven months in custody. They denied charges of "consumption and possession with intent to distribute" and were found not guilty of the charge of distributing drugs. | The men had their first trial hearing in February after seven months in custody. They denied charges of "consumption and possession with intent to distribute" and were found not guilty of the charge of distributing drugs. |
| The alleged torture, which the police deny, took place in the desert, where the men were initially taken after their arrest, and subsequently in hotel rooms, it was claimed. | The alleged torture, which the police deny, took place in the desert, where the men were initially taken after their arrest, and subsequently in hotel rooms, it was claimed. |
| Grant Cameron's mother, Tracy, told the Press Association: "Grant had only been in the country for four days when he was arrested. | Grant Cameron's mother, Tracy, told the Press Association: "Grant had only been in the country for four days when he was arrested. |
| "For 45 minutes they were Tasered, beaten around the head and handcuffed before they were taken back to the hotel where Grant was staying. They were put in separate rooms and had guns held to their heads. They were told they would be killed and told they would never see their families again. Grant feigned being diabetic which seemed to calm things down a bit." | "For 45 minutes they were Tasered, beaten around the head and handcuffed before they were taken back to the hotel where Grant was staying. They were put in separate rooms and had guns held to their heads. They were told they would be killed and told they would never see their families again. Grant feigned being diabetic which seemed to calm things down a bit." |
| In a letter to Reprieve, Cameron has said he will use a state visit by the president of the UAE this week to raise his concerns about the case. | In a letter to Reprieve, Cameron has said he will use a state visit by the president of the UAE this week to raise his concerns about the case. |
| Cameron wrote: "The UK government takes all allegations of mistreatment very seriously. | |
| "We continue to press for evidence for a full, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations. The absence of an independent medical examination remains a concern." | "We continue to press for evidence for a full, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations. The absence of an independent medical examination remains a concern." |
| "During the state visit of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan there will be opportunities to raise a wide range of issues including concerns about this and other consular cases," he continued. | "During the state visit of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan there will be opportunities to raise a wide range of issues including concerns about this and other consular cases," he continued. |
| "We continue to request these cases are fully and independently investigated," he said. | "We continue to request these cases are fully and independently investigated," he said. |
| The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has called for a full, independent and impartial inquiry into the torture allegations and has raised them with "very senior officials" in the UAE. | |
| A spokeswoman said: "The FCO takes all allegations of mistreatment and torture extremely seriously, and acts with a sense of urgency in all cases. | A spokeswoman said: "The FCO 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," she said. | "We have raised, and continue to raise, these allegations at the most senior levels in person and through diplomatic channels, including through ministers," she said. |
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