A British couple was sentenced to three months in jail Thursday in a case that has caused controversy in Dubai because the two were charged with having sex on the beach. The judge did not provide any details about his verdict as is customary in Dubai, so it is unclear whether Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors were found guilty of engaging in intercourse, or some lesser offense.
The two Britons, who are both in their 30s were arrested in July and later charged with sex outside of marriage, public indecency and drunkenness. In addition to the three month jail sentence, Judge Hamdi Mustafa Abu el-Khair levied the equivalent of about a $270 fine against each of the defendants and ordered them to be deported from Dubai after serving their prison time.
"I will appeal (the verdict) and ask a judge to look at the medical report that says they did not have sex," their lawyer, Hassan Matter, told the Associated Press after Thursday's ruling. Both previously admitted they were drunk but denied having sex.
According to Matter, he will submit his appeal after the judge issues a formal explanation of his verdict. "I think the judge gave a small punishment for a kiss, not sex on the beach," said Matter.
