Boy, 18, sentenced in Dubai over sex with girl, 17

An 18-year-old British man who had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl in Dubai while the pair were on holiday with their families has been sentenced to one year in prison, a campaign group has said.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, began the secretive holiday romance in September with another Londoner, who is now aged 18.

After returning home and seeing pictures and chats, the girl’s mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Fakana at his hotel. Sex with another person aged under 18 is illegal in Dubai.

The Campaign group called the judgment an “utter disgrace” and said Fakana would appeal against the “unreasonable” sentence.

The organisation, which helps foreigners abroad and is an international authority on UAE law, added that Fakana felt “abandoned by the British government”.

A UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.”

The Dubai Public Prosecutor’s office has been approached for comment but previously said its legal system “is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings”.

Radha Stirling, the founder and chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said Fakana, who has been unable to leave the country since September, was “desperately hoping” to return home this week.

“But prosecutorial mishandling in the first stages of the case meant it wasn’t heard as a misdemeanour when it should have been,” she said.

“The family have issued a plea to Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to spare Marcus for consensual sex with another British citizen.”
-BBC