UAE dismisses conclusion of UK inquiry into death of Briton in Dubai custody as 'speculation'

The United Arab Emirates has rejected the findings of a British investigation that 'negligence' most likely led to the death of a British tourist who was 'starved and beaten' by guards at a police station in Dubai.

Businessman Lee Brown, 39, died on April 12, 2011 after five days in police custody in Bur Dubai, the hearing heard.

An inquest last week, held at Walthamstow Coroners Court in London, concluded that negligence led to Lee's death.

The builder, painter and decorator from Dagenham, east London, had planned to visit the city for a few days before flying to Indonesia to visit his girlfriend.

Jurors heard that he arrived in the Gulf state on April 6, 2011, and allegedly assaulted a maid at the Burj Al Arab hotel where he was staying the next day.

Lee stopped in Dubai on his way to see his girlfriend in Indonesia (

Picture:

Getty Images)

He said the woman entered his room without permission and he was soon surrounded by 20 people who dragged him to the police station.

He may have had an episode of mental health when he arrived at the prison, the hearing was told.

His family says such an episode was the only credible explanation for his alleged behavior at the hotel.

The UAE Embassy in London has now "completely dismissed" the court's findings that Lee was beaten or neglected by authorities in Dubai, calling all such allegations "speculation".

A spokesperson added, "The jury verdict did not determine Mr. Lee's cause of death, or any unlawful killing."

The Embassy also claimed that there were "serious irregularities in the investigation process and the handling of evidence, which may warrant a review".

They said Walthamstow Coroner's Court "disregarded previous findings from the High Court, the original Coroner's Court and medical authorities in the UK and UAE."