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A British woman could be jailed in Dubai after witnessing an argument between some of her friends and a drunk Swedish man in a hotel lobby.

Asa Hutchinson, 21, was arrested after a group of her male friends began taking selfies with the man in his 50s who had fallen asleep on a couch.

When he woke up, the enraged man, who is a technology company executive, allegedly began punching the boys, who fled the scene having suffered blows to their face and head.

She has now been charged with assault and theft - after the complainant lost his glasses while striking the boys.

Asa claims she wasn't with her friends when the row broke out but returned to the hotel lobby after hearing a commotion - only to be arrested by police.

(Image: SWNS- Cambridge)

She has been charged with assault and theft and faces the real threat of a custodial sentence.

Asa claimed: "The man woke up and began punching the boys. I heard the commotion and came back to see what was going on.

"He called the police and made official complaints about the boys for taking pictures of him, and for being rude."

Taking pictures of someone without their consent and being rude to another person are both classed as Illegal in Dubai and are punishable by jail time.

Since the incident, Asa's friends have left the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the expat from Chelmsford, Essex, who is described as a "quiet, sensible girl" has been charged and faces jail.

(Image: SWNS- Cambridge)

Her mum, Lucie Harrison, said: "You always worry about your kids, especially in these Middle Eastern countries.

"There is so much on the news about the way they treat British visitors, but Asa was having a great time.

"She loved the work and made so many friends - she is a quiet, sensible girl and really is the last person to start any trouble."

Since the incident, Dubai police questioned Asa's boyfriend Ben and others in the group after getting their names from the hotel reservations list.

The men managed to get their passports back by paying cash deposits, before flying home to the UK.

The Swedish man then made the decision to transfer the charges to Asa after learning she lives in the UAE.

(Image: SWNS- Cambridge)

Dubai law dictates that whoever makes the first complaint is the party most likely to be believed, so it may be irrelevant that the Swedish man threw the punches.

Asa, a key account manager for global transportation company Time & Motion,said: "It is so unfair, I was not involved, I just happened to be there, but the police are not interested in anything I have to say.

"Once the man made his complaint it was taken as fact. I can't go to jail, I couldn't cope."

Asa's dad, Iain is also worried and said: "This older guy was the one hitting everyone, he ought to know better at his age than getting into drunken fights with kids.

"And now he can't throw his weight around and get them into trouble, he is picking on my young daughter."

Asa's mother today (defended her daughter, saying she is "absolutely and completely innocent".

(Image: SWNS- Cambridge)

Speaking from her large three-bedroom home in Brentwood, Essex, where Asa grew up, mum Lucie Harrison, 51, said: "Asa is absolutely and completely innocent- she was there at the time but all she did was pick some glasses up off the floor and put them in the bin because she was worried someone would step on them.

"What I find really upsetting is that Asa has not turned her back and run away- she was saying, I've done nothing.

"She's really taking the rap, those guys in Dubai really seem to do things by association, I just find the whole thing so shocking.

"I'm just very concerned about her, she hasn't got her passport, so won't even be able to function out there - they've got her passport so she won't even be able to take out money.

"I'm very concerned about her mental health now because she's very anxious."Lucie told how Asa went to a convent school where she was confirmed into the Church of England.

She went to college to study Travel and Tourism and then attended a sailing school in Greece.

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Asa moved to Dubai three years after landing her first full-time job.Lucie said: "She has a job, a dog, everything- but I feel totally powerless and I'm putting all my hope and faith into Radha and her campaign.

"She is a very loyal and trusting and kind, generous person.

"She lights up a room when she's in it and is terrific because she's so loyal and trusting- she would have done a runner like Ben and got out the country but she's not like that.

"This is all so alien."Lucie is divorced from Asa's father Iain, 52, and now lives with her new husband Robert Harrison at the £850,000 house which is situated in a rural area and backs onto a large sprawling green, where there is a windmill.

Dubai is where British tourist Lee Bradley Brown was reportedly beaten to death in police custody after being arrested for allegedly being rude to a maid at his hotel.

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Being a citizen with a high status also helps in this case, as evidenced by the charges brought against Jamie Harron by Nueman Esser CEO Emad Tabaza in October this year.

Radha Stirling, CEO of the British NGO representing Asa said: "Visitors to the UAE need to be aware that justice does not operate the same way as it does in countries with mature legal systems.

"In Dubai, if two parties are in dispute or arguing, the first person to speak to the police is usually the one who is believed.

"Often it is a race to get to the police first.

"By making this complaint, the man may have been safeguarding himself from being charged himself.

"Also, it is clear in this case that Asa was a bystander, not involved with the fight and is only being victimised because the alleged culprits have left the country."

"Asa, originally from Chelmsford in Essex, was leaving Dusty's bar and restaurant in the Dubai International Financial Centre district when the events took place."