(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A Norwegian woman, who was jailed for having illicit sex and for giving a false report to the authorities about being raped, has been granted pardon, a prosecution source has confirmed.
"Her case has reached authorities beyond the Public Prosecution including the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the source told Khaleej Times.
Marte Deborah Dalelv, in a statement to a Press agency, said that she was given back her passport by the Attorney-General's Office and the case was dropped against her which made her free to leave the UAE.
The 24-year old woman, who works as an interior design executive, had been sentenced by the Court of Misdemeanours to 16 months in jail, followed by deportation, for falsely reporting a rape, having sex out-of-wedlock and consuming alcohol.
Her lawyer has already appealed the sentencing and a hearing was scheduled for September 5. She told police and prosecutors that her Sudanese boss raped her in his hotel room in the Safa area in Bur Dubai in March, taking advantage that she was under the influence of alcohol. The man was sentenced to 13 months in jail and deportation. She had been on a business trip with him when the incident happened.
Marte's case has created media frenzy in the west after she told her story to the Press recounting her ordeal and shock over being held in custody for reporting a rape. She claimed that during the interrogation, she changed her testimony claiming to the investigators that she had consensual sex in a desperate bid to get a reduced sentence.
In Oslo, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that Dalelv was being allowed to leave the UAE.
"Marte (Dalelv) is released! Thanks to everyone who signed up to help," the minister wrote on Twitter, adding that she would be returning home soon.
A spokeswoman from the ministry told AFP that Dalelv was not deported.
"She hasn't been deported, she has been pardoned. She can remain in Dubai if she wishes. Her passport has been returned to her," said Ragnhild Imerslund.
"She will travel home shortly," the spokeswoman added.
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