Ex-Leeds United managing director acquitted in UAE over tweet charges

Updated

The former managing director of Leeds United has been acquitted in the United Arab Emirates of criminal charges relating to a tweet.

David Haigh has said he hopes to be reunited with his family for Easter after spending nearly two years in custody in Dubai.

Mr Haigh was due to be released in November last year after being convicted of fraud, but was charged with a further offence of slander in relation to comments made on Twitter while he was in jail.

He will now be freed after being in custody since May 2014.

Ian Monk, Mr Haigh's spokesman, said: "David is delighted that the nightmare of almost two years in jail, which began when he was tricked into flying to Dubai on the pretext of being offered a new job, is now coming to an end.

"David now hopes to be reunited with his family in the UK for Easter. He will have more to say then."

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