Former British soldier Andrew Neal detained in Dubai on drug charges after 'forced confession'

Family and legal advocates call on Foreign Office to intervene on veteran’s behalf

Andrew Neal (Detained in Dubai)

A British ex-serviceman recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been detained in a Dubai prison on drug charges for the past four months, according to a legal advocacy group.

Former corporal Andrew Neal, a 44-year-old veteran of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was locked up by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last October, the pressure group Detained in Dubai claimed.

The group said Mr Neal was made to sign a document in Arabic admitting he had handled drugs despite repeated denials of wrongdoing, and that he had been misled by police who told him the document reflected his denials and was not a confession.

“The police drew up a statement in Arabic and forced Andy to sign it by way of his fingerprint, and when Andy complained that he had no idea what was written, the interrogator said, ‘Exactly what you said’,” it added in a statement.

The Nottingham-born man, who moved to Dubai in 2015 with his wife and two children, was said to have been arrested at his home on 4 October, 2018. Officers allegedly punched Mr Neal twice in the stomach and pinned him against the wall before taking him to police headquarters.

Although no drugs were found in his possession, Detained in Dubai said Mr Neal was told someone had identified him as having handled drugs.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of the pressure group, and Mr Neal’s family have called on foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer to help in the case.

“Andy should not spend another night in prison, let alone another four months,” said Ms Stirling. “It is shameful that law enforcement has a rubber stamp to ruin people’s lives, rob children of their parents, and jail innocent persons with impunity. How is it that forced confessions are still standard procedure in the UAE?”

Mr Neal (Detained in Dubai)

The legal representative said she wanted the UK authorities to “stand up for Andy Neal, a man who has dedicated much of his life to supporting the British forces abroad, and who was recovering from PTSD following his service in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia”.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: “We are providing assistance to a British man after his arrest in Dubai and are in touch with his family and the UAE authorities.”

Mr Spencer, the Conservative MP for the north Nottingham constituency, said: “I am aware of Mr Neal’s case and know that this is a distressing time for him and his family, with whom my office is in contact. The Foreign Office is taking the lead on this matter and my office are liaising with them as they continue to provide assistance to Mr Neal and his family.”

According to Detained in Dubai, the former soldier spent his first 17 hours in prison without food, water or access to a toilet. At his first court hearing, Mr Neal was informed he was one of 17 people arrested in a drugs “sting”.

The group claimed the witness who had apparently identified Mr Neal as a drug dealer in October then denied doing so at a court hearing in January, and that his statement was officially withdrawn by prosecutors.

But it said it was still waiting to hear whether the British citizen will be released or instead see his case transferred to authorities in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

Detained in Dubai, which said it had been in contact with Mr Neal’s parents and family during the process, said he spent 24 years in the British Army from 1991, serving in the infantry before transferring to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps as a dog trainer and handler in 2009.

He was diagnosed with PTSD on his most recent deployment to Afghanistan, the group said. After leaving the armed forces and moving to Dubai in 2015, he started his own dog training business.

Ms Neal has allegedly only been allowed to visit her husband on Wednesdays while he remains in jail.

The Independent has contacted the UAE’s embassy in the UK for comment.