UPDATE 6TH OF DECEMBER 2009: DONATE NOW!

PLEASE SHOW YOUR GENEROSITY AND HELP SUN BY CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS HIS LEGAL FEES WHICH ARE NOW AMOUNTING TO $15,000.  A SMALL DONATION FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL REDUCE THE IMPACT THESE FEES HAVE ON SUN’S FUTURE.

On top of being held in Dubai for months, prosecuted for a minor offense with the threat of imprisonment, Sun will have to deal with managing this debt that Dubai has forced upon him.  Cat Le-Huy was in the same situation last year and the support that friends, relatives and even strangers gave had a huge impact on his life following his release.

Please be generous and donate here

URGENT APPEAL:

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION - CLICK HERE

Brief

 

Australian visitor detained in Dubai after responding with swearing to an aggressive undercover police officer.

32 year old Sun McKay from Adelaide, Australia was travelling to Dubai.  As a result of Sun’s military work, he had been to Dubai many times and knew the drill.  On this occasion though, he was roughly grabbed and yelled at in Arabic by a person in plain clothes.  Sun was surprised at this harassment and responded with “what the f**k?”  Later, the man identified himself as being an undercover officer, at which point Sun apologised but this was not enough.  Sun was interrogated, his passport confiscated and he now lingers in Dubai, awaiting the results of a hearing that could send him to jail for 3 years as well as possible fines.

Sun tried to apologise and appeal to the Airport Policeman, Mr Hussain Redar Al Shoubani to drop the charges.  Sun was simply startled as all of us would be, after being grabbed by what appeared to be a random stranger, perhaps who was trying to hurt him or steal from him.  He had no idea what was going on.  Having visited and worked in middle eastern countries before, Sun is very respectful of Arabic culture and religion and would never intentionally disrespect authority.  He did not intend to cause any offense, did not swear at the policeman directly and hopes that the Police Officer involved will show some understanding, drop the charges and let him return to his family in Australia where his family anxiously await.  Sun works as a Security Officer to help build and construct Afghanistan and a medic to provide health and medical aid to the people.  He is a caring and genuine man, loved and missed by his family and friends.

 

27th of September and beyond:

Regular traveller to Dubai, Mr McKay had cleared through customs as usual

Sun turned to use the ATM inside Terminal 1

Sun was unexpectedly grabbed by a man in plain clothes and yelled at in Arabic

Sun in his surprise responded to this by saying “what the f**k?”

Sun then tried to apologise once the man identified himself as a Police Officer

Sun was then interrogated for 3 hours

Sun’s passport was confiscated

Sun was charged with using insulting and inappropriate language to a police officer but was not imprisoned

Sun is now awaiting his hearing

Sun has already been held in Dubai for 5 weeks and at least another 5 are expected

Sun has already incurred thousands in legal fees and is considering his legal options

Issues:

·    Holding someone in a country for extensive periods of time is expensive and emotionally draining

·    Lawyers in the UAE charge extortionate amounts for their fees

·    Foreigners face lengthy sentences for what Westerners consider slight indiscretions, regardless of the situation

Current Action:

Detained in Dubai have assisted with introductions to trusted & competent legal advice as well as liaising with relevant government bodies to seek assistance to achieve a favourable outcome.

Volunteers & friends of Sun are assisting with press and support campaigns.

Staff at Detained in Dubai are helping to raise awareness of judicial issues in the Emirate of Dubai to prevent more people being churned through the impossibly backward legal system.