'Sex on the beach' Brits await Dubai deportation
Considering if they should lodge petition to be able to stay
Two Britons who were spared jail after being convicted for having sex on a Dubai beach are now in police custody awaiting deportation, a local newspaper reported on Monday.
The Gulf News said Michelle Palmer, 36 and Vince Acors, 34 turned themselves in on Sunday and were being held at Dubai central police station.
The pair were found guilty in October of having sex on the beach in a highly publicized case in the Gulf city-state, which despite its pro-Western outlook still adheres to certain strict Islamic rules and bans sex out of wedlock.
A Dubai appeals court last month suspended a three-month jail term for engaging in sexual activity on a popular Dubai beach and for committing public indecency but the two were ordered to pay a 1,000 dirham ($270) fine for drinking alcohol and ordered expelled from the country.
Their lawyer Hassan Mattar told AFP that they had paid the fine but did not confirm that the two Britons were in detention awaiting deportation.
"I accompanied them yesterday to pay the fine, and we are still discussing whether to come forward with the petition to suspend the deportation order," Mattar said.