Matthew Croucher released after seven months being held on ‘sham charges’ in Dubai
Ben Keith comments for the Daily Telegraph, published 25 June 2024. Click here to view the article on the Daily Telegraph website.
Matthew Croucher, a former Royal Marine and recipient of the George Cross, has returned to Britain after being detained in Dubai for seven months on spying charges.
Croucher, known for his bravery in Afghanistan where he threw himself on a grenade to protect his comrades, was arrested in November 2023 after being accused of accessing a public facility using unauthorized technology.
Ben Keith said:
“The return of Matthew Croucher to the United Kingdom is to be welcomed.
He is one of the lucky few to escape the UAE. Many are not so fortunate.
Lack of rule of law
The lack of rule of law and unwarranted attacks on foreigners is the UAE modus operandi.
Some are lucky to escape – others are detained, mistreated and sometimes tortured without any help from the UK Government.
Hopefully the UK can take this as a reason to better scrutinise the UAE’s dire human rights record.”
He was imprisoned and later released but kept under investigation with his passport and bank access confiscated. Dubai authorities have now dismissed the case, citing insufficient evidence.
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Ben Keith is a leading barrister specialising in cross-border and international cases. He deals with all aspects of Extradition, Human Rights, Mutual Legal Assistance, Interpol, Financial crime and International Law including sanctions. He represents governments, political and military leaders, High Net Worth individuals, human rights defenders and business leaders in the most sensitive cases.
He has extensive experience of appellate proceedings before the Administrative and Divisional Courts, Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Court of Appeal as well as applications and appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and United Nations. Ben is recognised in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
