A British couple caught having sex on a Dubai beach in early July were fined and sentenced to three months in prison in October. Today, a Dubai court ruled in favor of the couple and set them free without having to serve any prison time.
Michelle Palmer, 36, and Vince Acors, 34, were caught having sex on the picturesque Jumeirah Beach on July 5. Palmer was working for a Dubai publishing firm. Acors was on a holiday visit to Dubai. They met at the beach after a champagne brunch that night.
According to the Dubai police, they were warned, but the couple went ahead and were caught having sex. They were also inebriated and seemed to ignore police warnings. The story was covered
here and
here on Digital Journal.
The couple, however, denied allegations they were having sex and instead said they were only hugging and kissing at the time. The Dubai Court of First Instance, however, found them guilty of unmarried sex and public indecency and sentenced them to three months in prison.
After the prison sentence was given on Oct. 5, the couple were freed on bail during their appeal process.
Today the Dubai Court of Appeal gave a verdict in favor of the couple and released them from prison. They will likely be deported soon. Palmer is already fired from her publishing job.
Palmer was happy with the verdict and told the
BBC, "It just proves our innocence after all the bad stuff that was written."
Hasan Matter, who represented the couple, told the Court of Appeal that the medical test on Palmer just hours after the incident showed she did not engage in sexual intercourse at that time.
Matter was happy they were given a fair verdict. He said the couple will be deported after the paperwork is cleared by the court.
