A British tourist who lured an Indian man into the country by promising him a job before kidnapping him and demanding a one million dirham ransom for his release has been jailed.
The offender posed as a woman representing a company in Dubai for six months in order to persuade the man, 30, to fly into the UAE, Dubai Criminal Court was told.
But when the victim arrived at Dubai International Airport he was taken to a hotel and held captive by the offender, as part of a plot to settle a debt with the unwitting man's brother.
The kidnapper, 36, even secured a visit visa for the man to ensure he made the journey to Dubai.
But he himself was only in the country on a visit visa, the court heard.
“When I arrived on June 2 of last year, the defendant met me at Dubai International Airport and introduced himself as the public relations officer of the company I would work for before he took me to a hotel,” said the victim.
Once at the hotel, he was told he would not be allowed to leave until his brother, who lived in the UK, paid a 20 million Rupee (Dh1 million) ransom.
“He told me that my brother owed him money and must repay him or instead give him a property, otherwise he would kill me,” said the victim.
When the offender made the demand to the brother, he told his family and police were then alerted.
“We traced the defendant through his mobile phone number and arrested him on June 5 in the lobby of the hotel where he was keeping the victim against his will,” said a police lieutenant.
The British man denied charges of illegal confinement, issuing threats and blackmail when he first appeared before the court last July.
But he was convicted of all charges at the latest hearing and handed a one-year jail sentence, to be followed by deportation.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5