British man jailed in Dubai for touching another man's hip regain freedom after ruler intervenes

A British tourist who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Dubai for allegedly touching a man's hip has had the charges brought against him dropped on Monday following the intervention of the emirate's ruler.

Jamie Harron, 27, an electrical engineer from Stirling, Scotland was sentenced in his absence for public indecency in the Middle Eastern country on Sunday.

He had been working in Afghanistan and was on a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates when he was arrested in July.

He said he put his hand on businessman Emad Tabaza's hip to avoid spilling a drink in a crowded bar. His accuser dropped the complaint, but local prosecutors decided to proceed with the case.

According to a campaign group, Detained in Dubai, the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has exonerated Harron.

Harron is now free to leave the country after having his passport returned, they added.