ABU DHABI // A British man accused of running naked on a public beach has pleaded not guilty to violating public decency.
GK, a naturalised British citizen of Lebanese decent, appeared before the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours yesterday.
He was accused of running naked on the Ras al Akhdar public beach on June 16. He has been held in jail since then. He told the court his bathing suit fell off while he was swimming. "I reject all this - I did not run naked on the beach," he told the court in Arabic. "My bathing suit just fell down and I immediately put it back on and apologised."According to his lawyer, Faiza Moussa, GK's bathing suit fell off as he was exiting the water. "It happened because the water was moving fast back and forth," said Ms Moussa. "It was not his intent."
Ms Moussa said immediately after the incident GK waved to a man near him on the beach and apologised. "Somebody did not like that and they called the police," said Ms Moussa, adding that her client "told the police and the public prosecutors it was accidental; he did not intend to commit any offence and therefore he should be acquitted".
Ms Moussa also requested that her client be granted bail.
If convicted, GK could be jailed for up to three months and fined Dh5,000. A representative from the British Embassy was present at the hearing. The judge adjourned the case until Wednesday.
hhassan@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
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