DUBAI // The lawyer for two Britons arrested on grounds of national security in Fujairah is confident the plane-spotting hobbyists will be released on a reduced charge after the authorities complete their investigations.
Lawyer Naseer Hashem met Conrad Clitheroe, 54, and Gary Cooper, 45, on Thursday at an Abu Dhabi police station, 11 days after their arrest near Fujairah airport on February 22 for taking notes and observing planes.
“The case is still being investigated, but we are hopeful it will be moved from national security to a lesser crime once authorities realise that they were not spying but just practising a hobby,” Mr Hashem said.
“In this hobby, people try to get information about flags, signs, numbers and designs on planes but in many countries there is not much knowledge about it.
“Yes, they should have been better informed about the laws of this country but they had no intention to carry out a crime,” Mr Hashem said.
Mr Clitheroe and Mr Cooper were transferred from a jail in Fujairah to Abu Dhabi along with their friend Neil Munro, a Dubai resident, on Thursday
Mr Munro is being represented by another lawyer.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
