Aussie expat sues Embassy

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musicman ViP

Member since 05 August 2009

musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]

musicmanViP07 June 2011 11:54:01

3180

Jailed Australian sues over bad consular advice in UAE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pa … um=twitter

An Australian woman is suing her country's government for allegedly giving her bad advice when she was in trouble abroad.

The hotel worker was jailed in the UAE after reporting she had been raped by fellow employees.

The complainant says Australian consular officials failed to warn her that she could be jailed for adultery if she reported the alleged assault.

She spent eight months in prison for adultery and drinking without a permit.

The 29-year-old woman says she was drugged and raped by work colleagues at the hotel in the Emirate of Fujairah in 2008.

She contacted her consulate for help, and says she received no warning from officials about the risks of making a complaint.

After reporting the incident to police, she was imprisoned until her pardon in March 2009. It is illegal to have sexual relations outside marriage in the UAE.

Now she has filed a lawsuit in Brisbane Supreme Court.

"The Embassy's deficient advice led to this woman spending a hellish eight months in prison," said her lawyer, Michelle James, in a statement.

"She was not told she could be jailed for reporting a sexual assault. If she had known that, she would not have reported the assault and would have tried to leave the country immediately."

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said it will contest the claim, but declined to comment further.

The complainant is also suing her employers at the hotel, alleging they failed to protect her.

Xtrem Contributor

Member since 02 April 2011

XtremContributor07 June 2011 15:31:31

187

with all respect to gulf locals and their rules : please comeback live with us on the planet earth,requirement: change ur laws.

amegy Active member

Member since 20 October 2010

amegyActive member08 June 2011 22:33:18

OK! Something is not making sense here. If she was "drugged" and "raped" how's that her fault and how come there are no laws to protect her. If the embassy had no knowledge of what the consequences would've been, how come they were not involved or at least got her a lawyer?

Xtrem Contributor

Member since 02 April 2011

XtremContributor08 June 2011 23:40:19

187

amegy wrote:
OK! Something is not making sense here. If she was "drugged" and "raped" how's that her fault and how come there are no laws to protect her. If the embassy had no knowledge of what the consequences would've been, how come they were not involved or at least got her a lawyer?

FYI , this is not the first time the victim gets punished for being raped in this place.
don't make me start with the comments u won't like were it's going

amegy Active member

Member since 20 October 2010

amegyActive member09 June 2011 00:08:04

This is sad! I'm still in a shock! It's one thing to have laws and regulations that everyone should obey and respect, but to punish the victim? Beyond me!

Xtrem Contributor

Member since 02 April 2011

XtremContributor09 June 2011 00:35:00

187

amegy wrote:
This is sad! I'm still in a shock! It's one thing to have laws and regulations that everyone should obey and respect, but to punish the victim? Beyond me!

there is planet earth, and there is this place.
that's how a 9999999% censored summary of what i would usually say about this place

Captain Jaw Breaker Active member

Member since 06 May 2011

Captain Jaw BreakerActive member10 June 2011 22:17:57

Actually the story is not complete, thats why its not making sense, there was the rape incident, but there was an adultery incident also thats why she got arrested.

the investigation in the rape incident, led to the adultery that took place..

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