Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates Hamad Al Shamsi confirmed on Monday that UK student Matthew Hedges, detained in the Arab Gulf country, has been charged by Abu Dhabi of espionage on behalf of a foreign state.
DUBAI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th October, 2018) Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates Hamad Al Shamsi confirmed on Monday that UK student Matthew Hedges, detained in the Arab Gulf country, has been charged by Abu Dhabi of espionage on behalf of a foreign state.
Last week, media reported that Hedges, 31, was apprehended at Dubai airport in May while trying to leave the country after a research trip for his studies at Durham University. The detainee reportedly came to the country to gather materials for his research on the UAE security policy after the Arab Spring. A UAE citizen tipped off the authorities about Hedges, who allegedly was trying to obtain confidential information from him, according to media reports.
"The subject, Mathew Hedges, a British citizen, has been referred to Abu Dhabi's Court of Appeal for the charge of spying for and on behalf of a foreign state, an act that jeopardises the military, economic and political security of the UAE," al Shamsi said, as quoted by the Gulf news newspaper.
Since his detention, Hedges reportedly had two visits from UK Foreign Office officials and one visit from his wife Daniela Tejada, with whom he also had a telephone call. On Wednesday, the detainee was brought to the UAE's state security court for hearing and allowed to see a lawyer. The case was postponed until October 24.
On Saturday, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash expressed dissatisfaction with London's actions in the case of Hedges, adding that the UK authorities are reluctant to address the case via common channels.
