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UK woman jailed in Dubai for saying ‘F*** You’ to her flatmate on WhatsApp row

Representational image

Representational image

A 31-year-old human resources manager from Gloucestershire, UK was detained on January 30, and is currently facing two years in jail in Dubai after her Ukrainian flatmate lodged a complaint with police for sending F*** You? to her, over private WhatsApp chat during lockdown.

The British woman had made the comment in October amid an argument over who used the dining table for work during lockdown.

 

She had been living in Dubai since 2018, and had decided to return home permanently to be close to her partner and family. She had already shipped her belongings home in advance to start a new job.

 

However, the woman was barred from leaving Dubai, when she tried to fly to the UK on Saturday. She, then was told that she wasn’t permitted to leave as there was a police case lodged against her.

 

Later, she discovered that her flatmate had lodged a police complaint against her over the WhatsApp row, claiming that she had felt offended.

 

The woman, who asked not to be named, told a UK based media portal The Sun, I can’t believe what my flatmate has done, she has been so spiteful. I pleaded with her to withdraw the complaint but she said, this is a criminal case.

 

The woman has no cash and nowhere to live. She is currently staying with a friend and waiting for her court date, which is probably months off. Her visa expires on February 12.

 

Speaking to the international authority on United Arab Emirates (UAE) law Detained in Dubai, the woman added, I would never have expected a European to take advantage of the UAE’s strict laws. We shared a flat and we were all casual with one another.

 

I have never been in trouble in my life, and I’m shocked that I’ve been criminalised over a private WhatsApp exchange with someone whom I lived with. What’s worse, the messages were from months ago and only now, when I’ve shipped all of my belongings, booked a flight and when my visa is about to expire, do I even find out about this case. I tried to plead with her to drop the case, but she doesn’t seem to care about the impact this is having, she added.

 

Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling, who is representing the woman, issued a statement on Thursday, which read:

 

This is a terrifying situation for anyone to face. She had to attend several different police stations, where staff have limited English and communication is difficult. Every officer seemed to have a different take on what would happen to her, how long it would take and if she’d be allowed to go. Most people find this experience traumatising.

 

The police confiscated her passport and her mobile phone to gather the evidence. The police took the woman’s statement which admitted the rude word, but they still feel the need to process her phone through their forensic department, a process in itself, that can take weeks or months. Nothing is clear and nothing is logical. If shes admitted the crime in her statement, do they really need to drag her through a lengthy evidence gathering process

 

?When the UAE first published their Cybercrime Laws, we realised they were the single biggest risk to visitors to the country. The broadness in scope essentially criminalised everyone, and gave practically limitless sentencing discretion to judges. A private WhatsApp message to a friend, colleague, or ex partner can land you in jail. Even more unimaginable is the extraterritorial element. You do not even have to be in the UAE when you send the message. This is extremely dangerous for visitors to the country.

 

We have approached the British consular office for assistance, and the UAEs Ambassador to Britain to investigate the matter. Without intervention, the woman is likely to spend months in the UAE, awaiting judgment which may or may not be a prison sentence. This is no way to treat visitors and expats in Dubai.

 

The human resources manager has been worried sick, her visa expires in a few days and she can’t believe anyone would use the law like that.

 

While in a conversation with Sterling, the woman cried, This is like the nightmare all over again at the thought of losing my job. They cannot send a report until the forensics compiles the report of my phone (even though I said I said the word and did not deny it the prosecutor still needs that apparently) but no one seems to know when that report will be done. I call every day. I have told them I have no apartment and no job here and no money and that my visa expires on February 12, they just don’t understand. I’m banging my head against a brick wall. No one cares.

 

The UAEs Cybercrime Laws are a dangerous threat to foreigners, Stirling added.

 

 
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Nagpur News

RMBRCN celebrates Charter Presentation & Installation, Rina Sinha becomes Charter President

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The Rotary Means Business chapter of Rotary Club Of Nagpur (RMBRCN) celebrated their Charter Presentation and Installation of Board on September 17, 2023 in a crisp official ceremony at Hotel Centre Point, Nagpur.

Rotary Means Business encourages Rotarians to support the success of their fellow Rotarians by doing business with them and by referring others to them.

Charter President Past President Rtn Rina Sinha presided over the ceremony. Renowned entrepreneur and Rotarian Aspi Bapuna, Chairman of Bapuna Group, was the Chief Guest and  Rtn Namita Sharma, President of RCN, was the Guest of Honour.

The Board of Directors of RMBRCN include Rtn Navneet Jain, Vice President, Rtn Mohammed Master, Honorary Secretary, Rtn Sanjay Aggarwal Treasurer, Rtn Rakhi Bhatia Director Chapter Service, Rtn Rahul Shrivastava, Director Vocational Service, Dr Ruchi Choudhry, Director Membership Development, Ranjana Duseja, Director Attendance.

Past Rotary District Governor (PDG) Shabbir Shakir, Past Presidents- Bharat Goenka , Khushnoor Chugh, Sanjiv Chugh, Akhtar Parvez, Tejinder Singh Rawal, Alok Goenka,  Jerestine Watchmaker, Sandeep Dhodapkar, Sanjay Arora, President RMB Nagpur, and Behram Patel and Amitabh Sinha were present.

President Rina Sinha informed that within a short period of its formation already 48 members representing various businesses  have joined the chapter and the numbers are increasing . The Chapter has already crossed 5 crores of business amongst their members and RMB will further strengthen Rotary in membership growth and retention .

Chief Guest Rtn Aspi Bapuna lauded the chapter’s success and reiterated that its comfortable and safe to do business among fellow rotarians as all follow the Four Way Test of Rotary. Jerestine introduced President Rina. Aspi Bapuna  presented the charter and installed President Rina Sinha . Rtn Namita congratulated the RMB chapter and informed that this is the new initiative at RCN.The Board was installed by Rina Sinha and all members were installed by the Past Presidents. An exclusive digital Monthly Magazine ‘Growth Engine’ was launched by Editor Niharika Chugh Vali.

 Navneet Jain and Rahul Choudhry conducted the referral and thank you session where enthusiastic members informed about their successful business details. Nishchay Sinha launched the social media and MYRMB app which connects members to other chapters digitally, Treasurer Sanjay Agarwal gave treasurers report, Rtn Rakhi Bhatia managed the event. Rtn Parag Datey and Niharika were the Masters of Ceremony (MOCs). Secretary Mohammed Master proposed the formal Vote of Thanks .

Also read: Jayaswal Neco group celebrate BL Shaw’s 90th Birthday, 50th Founder’s Day in a huge gala event in Nagpur

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Nagpur News

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates double-decker electric bus availed for senior citizens in Nagpur

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Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, on Saturday, inaugurated the double-decker electric bus designed for senior citizens in Nagpur. The initiative has been undertaken in association with Ashok Leyland’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Committee and Jyeshtha Nagarik Pratishthan.

Executive President of Jyeshtha Nagarik Pratishthan Datta Meghe, Vice Chairman of Ashok Leyland Limited Yash Sachar, CEO of Switch Mobility Mahesh Babu, and other dignitaries were present during the inauguration.

“I am very thankful to Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle arm ‘Switch Mobility’ for donating an electric bus for our senior citizens. The bus can hold a capacity of 65 people and will benefit a lot to disabled and senior citizens,” Gadkari said.

“We already have a green Electra bus available to us for the past five to six years. Krishna Reddy has taken the responsibility of repairing and providing air-conditioning to the bus, moreover, he is providing us with one additional bus. A Tata Motor bus will be arriving this month as well, giving us a total of four buses to operate. This will solve the issue of waiting list due to the lack of buses for senior citizens in the city.” he added.

With the help of these buses, senior citizens can avail the benefit of free trips to religious places like Ambhora, Adasa, Shegaon, Mahur, Dhapewada, and Kalamb.

Also read: NMC confiscates 117 PoP idols, collects Rs 10,000 fine from seller

 

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Nagpur News

Nagpur: Married man accused of girlfriend’s rape commits suicide on Facebook live

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A 38-year-old married man named Manish alias Raj Yadav, on Sunday, committed suicide during a Facebook live-stream after allegedly being accused of rape by his girlfriend and her family in Nagpur.

During the live stream, Manish, who was married and a father to three children, stated that his 19-year-old girlfriend, Kajal, along with her family members demanded a sum of five lakh rupees and threatened to press charges of rape if he failed to do so.

On September 6, the situation became grave as the woman’s family accused him of eloping after Kajal went missing from her residence.

The deceased refused the claims of having any sexual relationship with the woman and identified her, her family, and a photo studio operator responsible for his condition. He, then, jumped into the river.

After the live video surfaced online, Kalamna Police launched a search operation and recovered the deceased’s body from the river. Four people have been detained in the case for questioning. Further investigation is underway.

Also read: NMC confiscates 117 PoP idols, collects Rs 10,000 fine from seller

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