Abu Dhabi: British man on trial for spying charges

A British man, Matthew Hedges, has been referred to Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal for trial on charges of spying and seeking confidential information for the benefit of a foreign country, aiming to endanger the UAE’s economic, political, and military position. The transfer of the accused to trial was done ensuring his full rights during the investigations and in accordance with the UAE’s Constitution and laws.

The prosecutor stated that the defendant was brought to the United Arab Emirates under the cover of academic research. Investigations aimed to compare his confessions with the information extracted from his electronic devices, and the information obtained by the security services. He added that the accused appeared before the court in the presence of British embassy representatives.