Scottish tourist jailed for bar incident is pardoned by Ruler of Dubai

Jamie Harron has passport returned and is allowed to leave emirate

Jamie loved Dubai, having visited many times on holiday, and on stopovers on his way to his work in Afghanistan. (Family handout Photo)
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A tourist sentenced to three months in jail over a drunken incident at a bar has been pardoned by the Ruler of Dubai and will be allowed to return home.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Scotland, was arrested after a German-Jordanian expatriate called police alleging the man had patted his behind, then flashed his middle finger, the court heard.

The incident took placed at a bar in Barsha Heights on July 15.

On Sunday he was convicted by Dubai Criminal Court but on Monday Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, issued a pardon.

He will have his passport returned and will be able to leave Dubai.

“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed for his personal intervention in this case," his UK-based legal representative, Radha Stirling, said in a statement.

The case has attracted widespread international media coverage and reports say Harron was on a two-day stopover in Dubai on his way back to Afghanistan, where he worked as an electrician.

A 27-year-old mechanical engineer, who is a witness and friend of Harron, told prosecutors that the Scotsman did not mean to offend the man, but confirmed that he did touch him.

“He was passing near the other man and accidentally touched his arm then immediately apologised and he patted him on his behind in a gesture that meant he was sorry,” said the witness.

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