Decorated ex-Royal Marine detained by UAE ‘relieved’ to be back in Britain

A former Royal Marine who was awarded the George Cross for bravery in Afghanistan and falsely held in Dubai on spying charges has said he is “relieved” to have returned home to the UK.

L/Cpl  Matthew Croucher, 40, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last November for “accessing a public facility using illegal means of technology”.

Earlier in June, authorities in Dubai said that after thorough investigation evidence against the former serviceman was found to be “inadequate” and he was to be released immediately.

Mr Croucher, from Yardley, in Birmingham, arrived home on Saturday after almost three weeks of diplomatic wrangling.

He said in a statement: “I’m just relieved to be back home after nearly eight months and I’d like to thank the media and all the British and UAE officials who helped secure my release.”

His family said: “This has been a very worrying and uncertain time for all of our family and we have known all along that Matt is completely innocent of these ridiculous charges.”

Mr Croucher’s barrister, Ben Keith, said: “The return of Matthew Croucher to the United Kingdom is to be welcomed.

“He is one of the lucky few to escape the UAE. Many are not so fortunate.

‘Lack of rule of law’

“The lack of rule of law and unwarranted attacks on foreigners is the UAE modus operandi.

“Some are lucky to escape – others are detained, mistreated and sometimes tortured without any help from the UK Government.

“Hopefully the UK can take this as a reason to better scrutinise the UAE’s dire human rights record.”

Mr Croucher received the George Cross – Britain’s second-highest decoration – after he threw himself on a grenade in Afghanistan to protect his fellow soldiers having snagged a Taliban trip wire during the search of a building.

Thanks to his body armour, he escaped with only minor injuries and his fellow servicemen emerged almost unscathed, save for a minor shrapnel wound.

Rodney Dixon KC, counsel for British nationals who have been detained in the UAE, and adviser to Mr Croucher’s family, said: “Matt Croucher’s case is a disturbing recurring theme in the UAE of arbitrary arrests on sham charges with no legal protections and due process.

“Instead of promoting the inspector general of the UAE Gen Ahmed Al Raisi to the top post of the president of Interpol, the international community should be courageous enough to call out the UAE authorities for their gross mistreatment of detainees.”