Trapped: A Couple's Five Years of Hell in Dubai

by Marcus Lee, Julie Lee

How Australian Marcus Lee and his wife, Julie, survived wrongful imprisonment, house arrest and five years of trials and tribulations in Dubai.

In 2006 Marcus Lee moved to Dubai with his wife, Julie, to take up his dream job working for Nakheel, the emirate's largest property developer. Everything went swimmingly until one day in 2009 when Marcus was picked up by the state police and imprisoned in solitary over charges of bribery. Marcus managed to get out of prison - and out of Dubai - with the help of Julie, who found her husband and spent five years working to free him - first from one of Dubai's notorious jails, and then from house arrest. In jail she kept his hopes up by smuggling notes and poems to him (she received smuggled diary entries in return).

The tale of a foreign posting gone horribly wrong and a relationship which survived despite enormous odds, this is at heart a love story and a testament to the strength of a marriage.

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2014

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Marcus Lee - Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible account of Marcus and Julie's Dubai horror story. The story flows well between narrators and even with the addition of legal commentary, it doesn't feel dull nor beyond understanding of Marcus' innocence. I felt tears of joy for their arrival back in Australia, including Dudley's eventual return. I sincerely hope both Marcus and Julie have been able to recuperate well in Australia, savouring the bright freedom of today and future tomorrows.

[Kareem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite chilling if you're living in the UAE... A very good read!

[F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real eye-opener into the possible traps of working overseas. It was well written, and great that the story was told by both Marcus and Julie, as they experienced the anguish of the ordeal on both sides of the prison walls. Julie's persistence and their strength and determination were inspiring. It certainly leaves the reader with questions about the legal system in Dubai, and it is still shocking that Marcus has not been compensated for his salary or expenses.
A quick, fascinating and eye-opening read - would thoroughly recommend.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought initially I would only be interested in the aspects of Dubai's prison system but found myself quickly engaged with this impressive couple and their unbelievable story. I even found the business law stuff quite interesting!! A satisfying read.