Malaysian Richard Lau finally released after spending nearly a year in prison without charge in UAE

Malaysian national Richard Lau has been released without charge after spending nearly a year in an Emirati jail, according to UK-based NGO Detained in Dubai.

Lau's reported release comes after an intervention by the Malaysian government earlier this week. On Wednesday, Malaysian Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, met with Ras Al Khaimah Emir Sheikh Saud Sadr Al Qasimi to request the release of Lau on bail while he waits for his court hearing. In response, officials in Ras Al Khaimah declared their intention to resolve the case as quickly as possible.

Prior to his release, Richard Lau had been held without charge in the UAE for 10 months on suspicion of embezzling money meant for wages whilst working as a project coordinator for a subsidiary of a Malaysian maritime transport company based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

In April of last year, Lau was reportedly detained by Emirati authorities after the partner of the subsidiary he was working for accused him of embezzling salaries from the company. However, throughout the duration of his detention prosecutors had struggled to find any substantial evidence to back the allegations.

UK-based NGO Detained in Dubai issued a press release announcing the news, stating:

“Detained in Dubai is happy to announce the release of their client Richard Lau after nearly a year in detention without charge.”

CEO of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling released a statement congratulating Lau and his family following his release.

“Richard was detained without charge and without evidence for almost a year. Once this case gained international attention, foreign investors and tourists were rightly alarmed; this has happened at a time when Ras Al Khaimah is making every attempt to lure investment and attract foreign business people to the emirate” Stirling said.

Stirling also paid tribute the Malaysian governments intervention in the case, stating that:

“We deeply appreciate the proactive, personal intervention by the Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah to resolve this case, as well as the cooperation of the authorities in Ras Al Khaimah.”

The Malaysian governments role in expediting the release of Lau raises serious questions over the UK government's handling of cases concerning the detention of British citizens in the UAE. In recent years, dozens of UK citizens have been detained in the UAE, often on the most spurious and bizarre of charges, yet the British government have rarely intervened.

The UAE looks set to become an increasingly important trading partner to the UK in the post-Brexit era where both countries recently announced their intention to double bilateral trade to up to £25bn by 2020. This comes in spite of numerous reports in recent years detailing the appalling situation concerning human rights in the country.

It is imperative, however, that the British government take inspiration from the Malaysian authorities recent intervention in Lau's case and do more to hold the UAE authorities to account over its increasingly systematic disregard for the rights of those within its borders.