Urgent warning Brit tourists ‘could DIE at hands of Dubai cops’ after holidaymaker ‘beaten & starved’ in hellhole jail
BRITS have been warned they could die at the hands of cops in Dubai after a holidaymaker was allegedly beaten and starved in jail.
A coroner has called for tougher warnings about the risks to tourists in the popular holiday destination after an inquest found Brit Lee Brown, 39, died from "neglect" when he was locked up for five days.
Mr Brown, from Dagenham in London, died at Bur Dubai police station after travelling to the Gulf on April 6, 2011, while on his way to visit his girlfriend in Indonesia.
He was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting a barmaid at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, an inquest heard.
He was left bruised and beaten, had inadequate food and water, was placed in solitary confinement and didn't have access to necessary medical care.
The inquest earlier this month ruled Mr Brown died from neglect.
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Coroner Nadia Persaud has now raised fears more Brits could die in Dubai as the Foreign Office's "insufficient" travel advice doesn't have enough information about the consequences of being arrested in the city.
She also said there could be more deaths as the UK government does not have an emergency access protocol to reach detained holidaymakers.
She will now write to the Foreign Office to raise her "concerns".
The inquest also heard the number of new cases of Britons reporting torture or mistreatment in Dubai has surged from three per cent of to 13 per cent in just four years.
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In her ruling, Ms Persaud said: "The inquest heard evidence that there is no emergency access protocol to ensure that consular officers can reach detained British nationals in the event of a reported emergency.
"The inquest heard concerns in relation to the current FCDO travel advice.
"There was considered to be insufficient information relating to the possible consequences of detention in Dubai (and the possible circumstances of such detention)."
She added: "A concern was raised at the inquest in relation to the procedures in place to gain consular access to detained British nationals who may be suffering from a mental health crisis.
";Such British nationals may not be able to provide the necessary consent for consular services.
"In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action."
Recording a narrative conclusion of neglect earlier this month, the jury forewoman for the inquest said: "The factors that probably contributed to his death are as follows.
"Bruises from other detainees, guards and police officers, a lack of adequate food or water, a lack of habitable living conditions and a lack of access to necessary medical care while at the police station.
"Factors that possibly contributed to his death are a lack of access to services and adequate clothing.
"The neglect was by the authorities at Bur Dubai police station."
I can't believe that he died at the hands of savage monsters when he had done nothing wrong
Doris
After the verdict, Mr Brown's mother, Doris, said she has had to "fight to find out how Lee died" for the last 11 years.
"I am incredibly relieved that the inquest has finally uncovered the precise circumstances in which my son lost his life," she said.
"My son was a good person who loved both me and his dad very much.
"He died in the most awful of circumstances being allowed to be beaten by other prisoners and, most shockingly, those who were supposed to look after him."
"He was not given proper food or appropriate care."
She added: "I cannot imagine how awful his last moments must have been. It makes me incredibly sad and angry.
"I can't believe that he died at the hands of savage monsters when he had done nothing wrong. They made up lies about him and took my life too. He was my life."
The Foreign Office must reply to the coroner's report by January 9 next year.
Another Brit trapped in the same Dubai jail claimed guards kicked his head "like a football" and he has had to drink toilet water to survive.
Albert Douglas described conditions in the maximum security jail as “medieval” and "demonic" as he continues to fight his case.
The 61-year-old was arrested and ordered to pay a £2.5 million fine by the UAE after his son’s company, a flooring firm, which he has no association with, amassed debts it couldn't repay.
He said was beaten so badly in notorious Al Ain Prison he wound up in hospital with a broken left shoulder, broken hands with exposed bones and serious head injuries.
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A spokesman at the UAE Embassy in the United Kingdom said: "In line with international standards, the UAE has stringent laws, regulations and procedures in place to ensure the physical and psychological wellbeing of detainees in its prisons. All inmates receive medical care as required.
"In the case of Mr Lee Brown, the Jury’s verdict did not determine a cause of his death, nor any unlawful killing.
"To the extent the Jury speculated about factors for his death, the UAE completely rejects this speculation.
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"The UAE notes also there were serious irregularities in the inquest process and treatment of evidence."