ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 29 (UPI) -- Three Britons who said they were beaten until they gave false confessions were each sentenced to four years in prison in a United Arab Emirates drug case.
Suneet Jeerh, 25, Grant Cameron, 25, and Karl Williams, 26, all of London, were charged with possessing, taking and intending to distribute illegal drugs while on vacation in the UAE in July, the BBC reported Monday.
They could have received up to 15 years for supplying drugs but that charge was dropped, the report said.
The men said they are innocent. They said they signed false Arab-language confessions after they were beaten and tortured, Gulf News reported.
Tracy Cameron, Grant Cameron's mother, said the men were put through "a pretty terrifying ordeal."
"Grant was separated from his friends, driven around the desert, beaten, kicked, punched, Tasered and a gun was held to his head and he was told he was going to die," she said.
Lawyers for the men and legal rights charity group Reprieve said they will appeal the verdict.
"The boys all got four years for consumption. While we are pleased with this result, we will continue to push for the men's release and return in light of the torture they have suffered," said Reprieve caseworker, Kate Higham.
