British teenager jailed in Dubai for sex with 17-year-old freed after royal pardon
Markus Fakana, now 19, was on holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August 2024 when he struck up a holiday romance with the British girl who was staying at the same hotel.
The girl's mother reported him, who was 18 at the time, to local authorities after discovering messages between the teenagers.
Mr Fakana, from Tottenham, north London, was jailed for several months after being sentenced to serve a year in prison last December.
But he has now released and returned to the UK on Thursday 3 July, after receiving a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, campaign group Detained in Dubai said
Detained in Dubai chief executive Radha Stirling said: 'It all happened so fast and he was nervous until the plane left the tarmac.
'We are relieved Marcus was released early from his one year long prison sentence. He's currently recovering from the ordeal.'
In an official statement, Ms Stirling added: 'Marcus should never have been put through this. He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination.'
The UAE has only recently made sex outside of marriage legal for tourists, but under UAE law the 17-year-old girl was a minor and her mother, her legal guardian, reportedly filed the complaint against Mr Fakana.
Mr Fakana claimed he was unaware the girl, who is also from London and has since turned 18, was months younger than him when they first met. In the UK, the age of consent for sexual activity is 16.
He was serving his sentence at the Al Aweer jail, which is also known as the Dubai Central Prison for Men, before his release.
The prison houses death row inmates and some of Dubai's worst criminals - including terrorists, murderers and rapists, according to reports.
There were reports of poor food handling and inadequate general hygiene in special detention facilities for drug offenders.
Media reports and NGOs stated some detainees in State Security Department custody did not receive adequate access to medical care.
Speaking in temporary accommodation while on bail, last year, Mr Fakana told campaign group Detained in Dubai: 'My family and I are devastated and in shock.
'I never intended to break the law. It didn't occur to me at the time and for that, I'm sorry. I am asking His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to please forgive me and pardon me. Please give me my life back.'
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