Accused British trio face 'torture' cop in Dubai trial

Grant Cameron and Karl Williams, both 25, from London, and Suneet Jeerh, 25, from Essex, were arrested on drugs charges in the United Arab Emirates in July last year.

The three were held after police claimed to have found a form of synthetic cannabis in their hire car.

They say they were subsequently tortured with Mr Williams suffering a broken hand and having shocks administered to his testicles.

In addition, the three also said that they were put under pressure to sign documents in Arabic, a language they do not understand, and denied access to a lawyer for more than six months.

Lieutenant Othman Ali, one of the arresting CID officers involved in the alleged torture, appeared in court today as the trial got under way and denied the claim.

Proceedings were held entirely in Arabic without any translation available, prompting legal action charity Reprieve - which is representing the men - to declare it in breach of international law.

The authorities in Dubai claim to have investigated the mistreatment suffered by the three but, more than half a year on, have yet to produce their report.

A document produced last week by Dr Frank Arnold, an expert on the assessment of torture wounds, found that the available medical evidence and reports from the British Foreign Office were consistent with the treatment the men described.

Reprieve lawyer Marc Callcutt said: "Today, a police officer who should be in the dock on trial for torture was instead giving false evidence in court.

"These developments show how preposterous it is for this trial to continue without an independent investigation into the torture of the three men."