A Frenchman selected in Dubai for a month for having used women’s toilets – Liberation

For more than a month, Ohan Villeneuve, 24, has been banned from leaving the United Arab Emirates. Impossible for him to board a plane and join France, to finally end a vacation that turned into a nightmare. « He is innocent and stuck »sums up his stepfather, sports journalist Denis Balbir, interviewed by Bfmtv.

The case goes back to April 19, while the young man from Metz is with his stepfather, his wife Ghislaine and his 17-year-old sister in Dubai. A destination prized by the family, who has been going there regularly for eighteen years, says France 3 Grand Est. In the middle of the street, Ohan would have suddenly been taken violent gastric problems. « A chronic health problem », says his stepfather. Messin would have immediately started looking for public toilets. Those reserved for out -of -service men, he would have headed, by default, to the women’s toilets.

Everything changes when Ohan Villeneuve gets dressed. Her phone would have slipped from his pocket before falling to the ground. A woman in the neighboring toilets sees the laptop, thinks to be filmed without his knowledge and pushes a cry. « Ohan, a little panicked, immediately told us about this mishap »explains his stepfather to France 3 Grand Est. He adds that the young man was convinced « That he was going to do prison ».

The next day, the family, to sweep away any misunderstanding, reports the incident to Emirati security agents present on the public highway. « They told us that there was no problem and that it happened to everyone. We were relatively confident … until the head of security, asked us for my stepson and take a picture of it ”, testifies the sports journalist to regional television.

For a few days, the holidays continue without pitfalls. But on April 21, when the Moselle family went to the airport to return to France, direction Lyon, Ohan Villeneuve did not go through the security gates. He is handcuffed and challenged by the Dubaiian police forces: a complaint was filed against him for « voyeurism » after the incident in the toilet.

His passport was confiscated. It is placed in police custody. Questioned by The Lorraine RepublicanDenis Balbir explains that his stepson then spends two days and one night in detention, « In abominable conditions, with fifty other people, on rotten mattresses ». And to abound at the microphone of BFMTV: « There was a toilet for everyone and the windows were walled. »

The relatives of Ohan claim that no video filmed in the famous toilets was found on his phone, and that consequently, the complaint against him would have been withdrawn a week later, thus exonerate Ohan. However, the young man does not obtain authorization to leave the Emirates. « He has his passport, he is free to move in Dubai, but he cannot leave the territory, The sports journalist abounds. It is the prosecutor who expressed the travel ban and he is the only person who can lift her. ” On France 3 Grand Est, the father sums up: « We went from dream to nightmare and love to hatred concerning Dubai.»»

Almost a month later, Ohan Villeneuve remains blocked in Dubai, alone in his hotel room. Faced with this « Administrative slowness » and at « A psychological and financial situation that deteriorates » – The family says it has already spent nearly 20,000 euros to cover flight and accommodation costs – Denis Balbir explains to the Parisian now want to publicize the case for « Get things things ».

The family also claims to have requested the Elysée, and to have received in response a letter from the chief of staff to the President of the Republic, mentioning that a request had been sent to the Quai d’Orsay about Ohan Villeneuve. Requested by Releasethe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet responded to our requests at the time of this article. For its part, the Consulate General of France in Dubai advised the Moselle family to take a lawyer on site. And « Show patience ».