Washington: A Sri-Lanka born American, who has been held in a jail in the United Arab Emirates for nine months for posting a comedy video on YouTube, was expected to be released soon, according to a top US official.
"We understand that (29-year-old Shezanne "Shez") Cassim has been credited with his pre-trial detention time against his one year sentence as well as given time-off for good behavior," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
"We have received word that Cassim has been moved to a deportation facility for processing. We understand processing will take a few days at which points he will be returning to the United States," she said.
"We continue to provide consular services to Cassim. US Embassy Abu Dhabi personnel have visited Cassim regularly, and expect to visit him once more on January 8," Psaki said.
Cassim`s ordeal started when he along with several friends, shot and uploaded a comic video titled "Ultimate Combat System: Deadly Satwa G`s" in October 2012.
In April 2013, he received a call to show up at the local police department, where he was interrogated, forced to sign documents and jailed in Dubai.
A UAE court on December 22 ruled that Cassim had violated the cybercrimes law that was passed after his film went public. Cassim was sentenced to one year in prison, immediate deportation upon release and a USD 2,725 fine.
"It is of great relief for the Cassim family that Shezanne can return home, but until authorities change the cybercrimes law it is simply a matter of time before another story of injustice emerges from the UAE," Rori Donaghy, director of Emirates Center for Human Rights, was quoted as saying by the local Minneapolis Star Tribune.
