Man arrested in Dubai after writing negative review for dog grooming company

A man is facing two years in prison in Dubai – after posting a negative review of a dog grooming business in his home country.

Craig Ballentine, 33, took a job at a dog salon in Dubai last year, where he worked for almost six months.

Autism carer Craig, from Belfast, was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia and had to take a few days off work.

He informed his boss and sent her his medical certificate, but contrary to Dubai labor laws, they reported him to the authorities as “absconding,” his lawyers say.

This led to his unemployment and a travel ban on his passport, which took two months and thousands of pounds to lift, allowing him to return to Northern Ireland.

After returning home, Craig left a Google review of the care center and his former boss and the problems she had caused.

Three weeks ago, Craig visited Abu Dhabi for a getaway with friends – and was whisked away to Dubai to face defamation charges under the UAE's tough cybercrime laws.

Now he is stuck in the countryside, unable to work as a carer for autistic people and facing two years in prison.

“We've seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews of hotels and car rental agencies,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, who tried to bring Craig home .

“Craig has been advised by local lawyers that the likelihood of the case against him being dropped is almost unlikely.

“If someone is offended, he can initiate criminal proceedings out of spite, even if he is guilty. Craig deleted the post, apologized, but still faces jail time. It’s outrageous.”

“We have seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews of hotels and car rental agencies.”

“The recent cybercrime laws in the UAE are a nightmare for foreigners.

“It is enough for a complainant to simply tell the police that someone has posted something offensive or rude. The police don't even need to see the actual post.

“The plaintiffs have all the power and often demand money from the defendants to close the case.

“It is a blackmail tool for vengeful people. As soon as a criminal case has been won, they can also open civil proceedings for massive claims for damages – the system offers an incentive to do so.

“Roommates, work colleagues and even spouses have abused this law and we find that it is often foreigners who take advantage.

“In this case, both parties are Western parties and most people would not dream of opening a similar case in their own country, but seem quite happy to open one in the UAE open.”

Craig told Ms Stirling in a phone call that his mother was “so upset and stressed that she thought I was dead”.

Craig, who frequently volunteers in his local community, is scared and desperate to return home.

“Craig has to get home and go to work,” Ms. Stirling said.

“It is abhorrent that authorities allow such frivolous crime reports to implicate visitors in the system.

“The sheer number of cybercrime reports they receive must be significant. There is no protection or protection and people's lives are ruined.

“We have reached out to Craig's local representative, Michelle O'Neil, and asked her to provide diplomatic representation to the UAE Ambassador and the FCDO.

“We hope she can help in the same way Ireland helped Tori Towey return home.”