A Brisbane woman imprisoned on adultery charges in the United Arab Emirates will sue the Australian government for not informing her that a rape claim could land her in jail, after the Brisbane Supreme Court accepted her petition
A Brisbane woman imprisoned on adultery charges in the United Arab Emirates will sue the Australian government for not informing her that a rape claim could land her in jail, after the Brisbane Supreme Court accepted her petition
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Gali said she was drugged and raped by male employees at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, where she worked as a salon manager.
Alicia Gali, 29, had spent eight months in a UAE prison on charges of adultery and drinking without a permit, before being pardoned in March 2009.
Gali alleges she was not told that she could be charged with adultery if she made a rape complaint against married men.
Gali''s lawyer and Maurice Blackburn principal Michelle James said the Australian government's failure to provide a consular advice led to Gali being jailed when she informed the police of her rape.
"She should have been told, as a bare minimum, of the local laws that apply in the UAE. We say no advice was given at all. Alicia was merely told that she should reconsider her need to be in the country at that time, but the embassy was fully aware that Alicia''s employer was illegally holding her passport. They didn''t assist her to have the passport returned. They didn''t advise her to seek local legal representation" News.com.au quoted James, as saying.
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