Ian Mackeller is facing several years in prison (Picture: Detained in Dubai/SWNS)
A British grandad is being detained in Dubai and could face a lengthy prison sentence after making a noise complaint while on holiday.
Ian Mackeller, 75, was visiting his daughter and grandchildren over the festive period and asked his neighbours to keep the noise down on New Year’s Eve.
But his complaints received a frosty reception, with party guests ‘pushing, shouting and filming him’ – and he was stunned when the neighbours filed a police report of their own, accusing him of tresspassing.
Ian, a retiree from Aberdeen in Scotland, was due to fly home on January 10 but he must now remain in the UAE indefinitely until the legal situation is resolved.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and a UAE legal expert, described Ian’s case: ‘It is standard practice in Dubai to pre-emptively file a police report when at risk of being reported.
‘The prosecution tends to side with whoever makes the first police report, so if someone is at risk of being reported themselves, they will quickly file against the actual victim.
Ian was visiting his daughter and grandchildren in the UAE (Picture: Detained in Dubai/SWNS)
‘This is how people familiar with Dubai justice manipulate the system to their advantage.
‘It is commonplace for foreigners in this situation to offer financial compensation to their accuser in order to drop the case.
‘Authorities in Dubai need to crack down on this blatant abuse of the criminal justice system.
‘The practice is systemic and will require significant legislative change to stamp it out completely.’
Ian was looking after his 18-month-old grandchild on the evening of New Year’s Eve – and his daughter had asked their neighbours to be mindful of noise beforehand.
They text the neighbour to ask them to turn the music down after finding it ‘impossible to sleep’ – but instead the volume was turned up even louder.
As his daughter needed to get up at 5.30am for work the next day, Ian went next door and asked that the neighbours go inside.
He faces a prison sentence (Picture: Detained in Dubai/SWNS)
The situation escalated, and Ian claims the party host ran up to him ‘screaming’ and ‘threw a drink over’ his grandchild.
He told her he would report this to the police, but his daughter dissuaded him from doing so. Shortly after the neighbour filed a report accusing Ian of trespass.
Radha, who has contacted Ian’s MP, Andrew Bowie, for assistance, added: ‘This is a very sad situation. Nobody would ever imagine that a polite request to turn the music down would result in a travel ban and criminal prosecution.
‘Again and again, we are reminded that a simple trip to Dubai can indeed be a one-way ticket.
‘If the case isn’t dropped, Ian will likely end up in prisons notorious for human rights violations, and he simply doesn’t deserve it.’
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‘This is a very sad situation. Nobody would ever imagine that a polite request to turn the music down would result in a travel ban and criminal prosecution.’