A Royal Marine hero has been cleared after being detained for seven months in Dubai after authorities admitted having “inadequate evidence” against him.
Matthew Croucher, 40, who received one of Britain’s highest honors for bravery, the George Cross, for his service in Afghanistan, was arrested in November after being charged with espionage.
He was then banned from leaving the UAE pending an investigation.
Authorities revealed on Friday that Croucher had been “arrested after accessing a public facility using illegal technological means” in a case his family called “fabricated and ridiculous.”
‘The case was referred to the Dubai Prosecutor’s Office and after a thorough investigation, it was concluded that the evidence was inadequate. The case was dismissed and Croucher is now free to leave the United Arab Emirates,” the Dubai press office said.
Matthew Croucher, 40, was arrested in November after being accused of espionage, but was acquitted today after being detained for seven months in Dubai.
Croucher was awarded the George Cross for his service in Afghanistan after jumping on a Taliban grenade to save his colleagues.
“The decision highlights the Dubai Public Prosecutor’s Office’s commitment to upholding the rule of law,” the statement continued.
The former corporal, who once jumped on a Taliban grenade to save his colleagues, was arrested on November 4 after Dubai officials accused him of “intentionally and illegally accessing a telecommunications network.”
They did not reveal who they say he was spying on, or who he supposedly worked for, the Times reported.
Officials reportedly obtained an electronic device, which Croucher claimed he used in his day job for security penetration testing, after obtaining a warrant to search the place where he lived.
He was forced to sleep on the floor while in prison because it was so overcrowded, according to a close friend who added that he was also forced to eat a “primitive meal of rice and chicken twice a day with very unhealthy amenities.”
The friend claimed he was questioned by Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department for six hours, during which he was questioned about his role within the Ministry of Defense and UK intelligence services.
Before he was cleared on Friday, his family, from Solihull in the West Midlands, said: “We are shocked by the circumstances that have developed.” He was only going to be away for a couple of weeks. We don’t understand why it’s taking so long to process the case.
‘We believe the case is fabricated and ridiculous. The Foreign Office has been unhelpful, often making matters worse and telling him that his case has been formally concluded.
“This has caused our family immense stress and we just hope this can be resolved as soon as possible.”
Croucher won the George Cross, Britain’s highest honor for bravery on the battlefield and not “in the face of the enemy”, for his heroism in February 2008.
During a nighttime raid on a Taliban compound, he stepped on a tripwire that triggered a grenade.
Instead of fleeing, he deliberately quelled the explosion, turning onto his back to let his backpack absorb all the force and thus prevent the four members of his patrol from being killed by the explosion.
The George Cross ranks alongside the Victoria Cross as the highest medal for bravery.
The VC is awarded for outstanding bravery “in the face of the enemy” and is often considered more prestigious, although the GC recognizes the same level of bravery in cases where no enemy is present.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said ahead of Croucher’s clearance: “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with local authorities.”
This is breaking news. More to follow.
