British woman caught having sex on beach faces court in Dubai

A British woman who was caught having sex on a Dubai beach could face up to six years in prison after she was charged with three offenses.

Michelle Palmer, 36, a publishing manager from Peterborough, was in Dubai working for ITP Publishing. She met Vince Acors, a Kent businessman, at a weekly champagne brunch at Le Meridien hotel in Dubai. After a few hours, both were drunk and took a stroll on the shore. The couple then decided to have sex just near the picturesque Jumeirah beach. A police officer saw the couple having sex and let them go with just a warning. But the couple ignored the warning and kept having sex. The officer returned again and arrested them on the spot. Ms. Palmer made it worse after she complained to the police officer, asking why he disturbed them the second time. She allegedly tried to hit the officer with her high-heel shoes, according to the police. Palmer is charged with three offenses: Having a sexual affair (sex outside marriage is illegal in the Islamic federation of the United Arab Emirates), public indecency; and insulting a police officer. The prosecutors have not decided what charges to file against Acors. Dubai police chief Major General Khamis Mattar al Mazeina told Daily Mail:

The United Arab Emirates has certain traditions and values and is an Islamic country. It does not tolerate such behavior and everyone must respect our culture as we respect theirs.

Before being punished by the courts, she received a punishment from her employer. Palmer has been fired from her £28,000 ($55,706) a year job with ITP Publishing. Since this incident, more police officers are posted near the La Meridien hotel to control drunken behaviors and misbehaving expatriates.