UAE hotel rape claim woman to sue Australian gov't

The Australian woman who was jailed in Dubai for adultery after she was allegedly drugged and raped plans to sue the Australian Government as well as the Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah where she worked.

Alicia Gali, 29, claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by four co-workers at the hotel in June 2008.

She has already been granted leave to sue the resort and will tomorrow seek leave to sue the Commonwealth in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

Gali claims she contacted an Australian consular official for advice over whether to report the incident or go to hospital.

She claims the officer warned her she could face a life sentence if drugs were found in her system, but did not tell her a complaint of rape could see her charged for adultery.

"I thought I would be safe and protected in an international hotel group," she said in a statement.

"They didn't give me the correct advice and didn't help me when I was charged and imprisoned."

When Gali reported the alleged incident she was jailed on an adultery charge and spent eight months in prison.

The former beauty salon manager at the resort was later pardoned and released in March 2009.

A spokesman for the international group Starwood Hotels, which owns the resort, said the management of Le Méridien Al Aqah “is aware of the unfortunate circumstances that occurred in June 2008 concerning Alicia Gali”

“The matter was investigated thoroughly by local United Arab Emirates authorities at that time. Upon completion of the investigation, and after obtaining statements from Ms. Gali as well as other hotel staff and third parties, the local authorities applied local laws and determined that it was appropriate to incarcerate Ms. Gali and the other individuals involved in this matter,” he said.

“The hotel management provided support and assistance to Ms. Gali and her family throughout this time including assisting with medical support, arranging for financial support, assistance with the investigation, liaising with her representative embassy and arranging for her family to come to the UAE from Australia. The safety and security of staff is a paramount priority.”