Ryan Cornelius, a British property developer, has been imprisoned in Dubai for 18 years and has missed the birth of his first grandchild. While his eldest son was 16 years old at the time of his father's arrest in 2008, he is now a father himself and has ignored Ryan as a grandfather.
Difficult Prison Conditions
Ryan's wife, Heather, says: "He was a very happy father, but now at 72 years old, his condition is severely deteriorating. He is in terrible conditions and if I don't get him released from prison, he will likely lose his life soon." Ryan was arrested by Emirati authorities during a routine stop in Dubai while returning from negotiations in Karachi over an oil refining project.
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Claim of Innocence
He has been accused of defrauding Dubai Islamic Bank, a charge he denies. His brother-in-law, Chris Paget, claims that Ryan and his partners were over $10 million ahead of the repayment program. In 2018, two months before the end of his 10-year sentence, he was transferred to the judge's office and was informed that his sentence had been extended by another 20 years.
Ryan's family has strongly criticized the British government's handling of the case, with Chris stating: "What has happened to Ryan is completely cynical by powerful individuals in Dubai, and the British government's approach to this case has been extremely disappointing."
Heather and Chris sent a letter to Number 10 Downing Street on Monday, asking Prime Minister Andy Burnham to intervene for Ryan's release. In her letter, Heather wrote that Burnham's speech on the Hillsborough Law gave her courage and she believes he can understand his situation.
In July, a UN expert panel called on the UAE government to "immediately release Mr. Cornelius" and emphasized that given his age, length of imprisonment, and health status, urgent action must be taken to prevent irreparable harm.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office stated that the government is still raising Ryan's case with Emirati officials and providing consular support to him and his family.
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