Tourist disappears from Dubai jail after exposing corrupt police

A British tourist has vanished from a jail he was wrongfully being held in, after he promised to expose the corrupt police behind his arrest.

The family of jailed British footballer Billy Hood fear for his safety as he has “vanished” after vowing to expose the police he claimed framed him.

The 24-year-old has not been in contact with his family after being moved to an Abu Dhabi jail from one of Dubai‘s most notorious prisons, The Sun reported.

Mr Hood’s terrified family are deeply concerned for his wellbeing as he recently claimed he has damning evidence that Dubai police framed him.

A friend of the footballer, from London, even claimed he had been “tortured” and “tasered” in the “hellhole” prison ever since he discussed his bombshell evidence.

Mr Hood’s heartbroken mother Brenda said her son “hasn't even been able to get in touch with his lawyer” since his transfer.

She told the founder and CEO of pressure group Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling that her son had been cut off from everything.

“I can’t imagine what he’s going through now,” she said.

“He’s been moved from pillar to post and was just finally relieved to be with other British citizens in Dubai when they suddenly moved him to Abu Dhabi.

“He’s going through the most stressful time in his entire life and can’t even communicate with his family, his lawyer or the British Embassy.”

Billy Hood is detained in the UAE. Picture: Facebook

The athlete was sentenced to 25 years in a terrifying jail after he was found guilty of possession, selling and drug trafficking after cops found just four small bottles of CBD vape oil in his car.

He has since been shipped off to another facility, while having “zero contact” with any of his family or allies.

Campaigner Ms Stirling described the judicial process in the UAE as “unpredictable” and warned “unexpected delays are commonplace” ahead of Mr Hood’s appeal judgment on November 30.

“Billy Hood does not deserve a 25-year sentence for something he did not do," she said.

“He has already lost a year of his life under traumatic circumstances which will likely haunt him for the rest of his life, even if he is exonerated or pardoned.

“I’ve seen the effect unfair detention and persecution has on people who are unlucky enough to see it first hand.

“I just hope Billy is home before Christmas to begin the healing process.”

Mr Hood has now been behind bars for nine months under the strict UAE drug laws after a friend allegedly left the CBD oil in his car as he dropped him off at the airport.

Friend and football agent Alfie Cain said Mr Hood was repeatedly beaten for five days straight while officers tried to force him to confess to drug crimes.

He said Mr Hood told him he only signed the drug trafficking confession because officials told him if he signed the document, written in Arabic, they would stop the abuse.

Mr Hood’s family, backed by campaign group Detained in Dubai, have applied for a royal pardon while appealing directly to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum for the 24-year-old's freedom.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Picture: Fayez Nureldine/AFP

They blasted his arrest as “ridiculous” and said it was “absolutely absurd” that police have “ruined his life and slandered him and his reputation”.

A petition to free the young football coach has gained over 110,000 signatures – seeing Ms Stirling call on government ministers for their support.

“Detained in Dubai has rallied up MPs to support a parliamentary debate on whether the FCDO should increase travel warnings to the UAE,” Ms Stirling said.

“It’s not just about the strict laws themselves, but about forced confessions, unfair trials and an unreliable legal system that can ruin lives like Billy’s.”

In a statement through his lawyers, Mr Hood said he had just moved to Dubai to coach kids' football and was arrested when he went to get something from his car.

“They jumped out to arrest me, handcuffed me. One officer jumped out and pointed a Taser at me, threatening to use it if I didn’t co-operate,” he said.

“They demanded to show them where the drugs are. I was shocked, scared and confused. I told them I wasn’t aware or in possession of any drugs or substances.”

Billy Hood was arrested after police found CBD oil. Picture: Facebook

The police had told Mr Hood they were interested in him because of something they had seen on social media.

Convinced they had the wrong man, Mr Hood allowed officers to search his apartment and car and submitted to a voluntary drugs test which came back negative.

There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences in the UAE.

The penalties for trafficking, smuggling and possession of even tiny amounts of drugs are severe.

Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty and possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs can lead to a minimum four-year jail sentence.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Tourist disappears from Dubai jail after exposing corrupt police