British teen jailed in Dubai dies 3 months after being freed from prison
Marcus Fakana, 19, was released halfway through his one-year sentence and allowed to come back home to the UK this year
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British teen jailed in Dubai dies 3 months after being freed from prison
Marcus Fakana, 19, died following a car crash after police pursued a “vehicle of interest” he was a passenger in.
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
OCTOBER 4, 2025
A British teenager who was jailed in Dubai has died following a car crash three months after being freed from prison.
Marcus Fakana had been sentenced to one year in Dubai jail after having consensual sex with a then-17-year-old British girl whose mother reported him to police when she learned of their holiday romance.
Sex outside of marriage is illegal in Dubai and Marcus who was 18 at the time was arrested and detained in the United Arab Emirates city.
However, following pleas by his family and lawyer, Marcus was then freed in July this year after receiving a royal pardon from Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum six months into his sentence with his story receiving widespread media attention.
But now The Source can confirm that Marcus has died following a car crash after police pursued a “vehicle of interest” he was a passenger in.
The Metropolitan Police has now released a statement officially naming Marcus as the deceased in the car crash adding that his family has asked for privacy during this time.
Furthermore, the Met Police named the driver Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, 19 of Argyle Road, Tottenham, who they say was arrested close to the scene of the collision has since been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a license and failing to stop.
He will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Saturday, 4 October.
Taking to social media, representatives at the organisation Detained in Dubai who worked on Marcus’s legal case shared the news of his death saying he had “embraced his freedom” with “hope for the future” before his passing.
Crisis Manager Raphaella Stirling posted on X formerly Twitter stating: “We are heartbroken to share that our client and friend, Marcus Fakana, tragically lost his life in a car accident in Tottenham on the 3rd of October 2025.
“Marcus had only been released from prison earlier this year. Despite everything he endured, he was grateful for the kindness of the British public, and he embraced his freedom with renewed faith, joy, and hope for the future.
“His loss is a painful reminder of how precious life is and how unnecessary imprisonment robs people of time they can never regain. Every day of freedom matters. Rest in peace Marcus.”
While human rights expert Radha Stirling, who is also founder of Detained in Dubai shared her “heartfelt condolences” along with a link to a Metropolitan Police statement.
In a now deleted post on X formerly Twitter, she wrote: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the fatal collision in Tottenham on 1 October 2025.
“I had the privilege of getting to know the young man involved, and I witnessed his strength and courage during a very difficult period in his life.
“He spoke often of his gratitude for the kindness shown to him by the British public and of the hope and faith that guided him.
“He was especially thankful to have his freedom back, and it brought him joy to look forward to a bright future with renewed focus and a deepened commitment to his faith.
“My heartfelt condolences are with his family and with the wider community who mourn his loss. Rest in peace, young one.”
The Metropolitan Police statement linked by the lawyer which has now been confirmed to relate to Marcus’s death.
The Met’s statement read: “At around 00:52hrs on Friday, 3 October police on patrol attempted to stop a vehicle of interest on Pretoria Road, N18.
“Following a short pursuit of approximately 60 seconds, police temporarily lost sight of the vehicle. Shortly after, officers drove onto The Roundway, N17 and found the vehicle had been involved in a road traffic collision with another vehicle.
“Officers provided immediate first aid prior to the arrival of the London Ambulance Service and London’s air ambulance.
“The passenger, a man aged 19, had significant injuries. He was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of emergency services and medical staff, he died a short time later. His next of kin have been informed.
“The driver, a man also aged 19, was arrested after the collision on suspicion of failure to stop and dangerous driving. He remains in police custody.”
Since then, the founder has written a new post where she named Marcus confirming his death and expressing her heartbreak.
She wrote: “We are heartbroken to share that our client and friend, Marcus Fakana, tragically lost his life in a car accident in Tottenham after his release from Dubai jail.
“His loss is a painful reminder of how precious life is and how unnecessary imprisonment robs people of time they can never regain. Every day of freedom matters. Rest in Peace, Marcus.”
She added that Marcus had been released from prison on July 3 and that he had died exactly a three months after he was freed.
Friends and family have also taken to social media expressing their disbelief at the teenager’s death which comes shortly after he was pardoned from prison.
After heavily campaigning for his release they shared how they were “devastated” by the loss and had ‘fought for him’ to be freed.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the Metropolitan Police is appealing to witnesses and anyone with footage to come forward.
Anyone with information around the incident to call police on 101 referencing CAD 214/03OCT.
*This story has bee updated to reflect that it has been three months since Marcus was released. A quote from Raphaella Stirling and a new quote from Radha Stirling have been added. It now also includes an update from the Met