Flights of Amazement

David and Jeremy are due back in Sydney this morning as I understand it. They've just made themselves famous, or more appropriately notorious, for getting themselves arrested in the UAE for drunk and disorderly conduct on board a flight, including sexually harassing hostees in first class. Not a good idea anywhere, certainly not a good idea in a Muslim country. They were found guilty and deported. They were both lucky they weren't found guilty, given 50 lashes and jailed for 15 years.

I've known them both since they were in university studying geology together. They've done everything together ever since, graduating, establishing companies, getting drunk, "screwing birds", going bust, making millions. Reality has apparently finally gripped the market and the shareprice is starting to wobble. They've been out of control for awhile. But in Asia, where they spend a lot of time, you can get away with a lot more than in the Middle East. Tip a girl a thousand dollars in Bangkok and they will tolerate almost anything.

Do the same thing in the Middle East and no amount of tipping will protect you from their contempt for the infidel. The story's been everywhere, on the news, in the papers, pictures, stations sent reporters, the works. The idea of the public flogging of two Australians was getting everyone going.

While we never married, David is my ex's brother, basically my brother-in-law. I've never met anyone as randy as David; and I remember them staying with us when the kids were tiny and he was a broke university student. He's always proppping up Suzy with money, even though he knows its immediately wasted. What a family!! And now that it's all over the news, everyone knows. There has been much melodrama and desperate and sad and worried phone calls, as that old biblical phrase recurs, "shame on the family". It's all an unmitigated mess.

The story continues:

"It was the days of the Mardi Gras now, when gay pride was everywhere. At the same time his peers started to die of AIDS. He felt trapped by the new definitions. He was from a different time zone. The new politics only reached so far in the confused babble. Somewhere, during his long bouts of heavy drinking, he had adopted the earlier beliefs of his old drinking buddies, to be gay was somehow to be corrupt, his sex a sickness. Crowds of old friends were dying, and the darkness of those days, with so many talented people ending in the most miserable of ways, echoed with his own irredeemable past.

"There was someone evil, vicious and camp inside. He found himself, deeply drunk on black bourbon and coke, laughing inside a fat, corrupt body, lisping inappropriately. His mannerisms went limp-wristed, his eyes took on an understanding, worldly-wise look.
"And then a very funny thing happened."


THE BIGGER STORY.

Deported Aussies being flown home
By Paul Carter

June 05, 2007 09:16pm
Article from: AAP

TWO Australian businessmen accused of drunkenly stripping half naked and offering airline hostesses money for sex will be deported from the United Arab Emirates tonight.

Mining executives Jeremy Snaith and David Evans are booked on an Etihad Airlines flight to Bangkok, leaving Abu Dhabi at 21.55 local time (3.55am AEST, June 6), sources said.

The pair, and a third Australian businessman, William Sargent, who was acquitted of charges yesterday, have been in custody in UAE since being arrested on arrival in Abu Dhabi from Sydney on April 27.

Mr Sargent, also a mining executive, is expected to leave Abu Dhabi for London tonight.

The trio have been detained for six weeks in UAE since their alleged mid-air antics in first-class.

The men's lawyer Ross Hill said today problems with seats, airconditioning and refrigeration were "a recipe for disaster".

"It was inevitable that people were going to be angry when they paid more than $10,000," he said to the Nine Network.

But Etihad Airways spokesperson Iain Burns said there was no excuse for the boorish behaviour.

"Anyone who goes to a restaurant and complains about the food or doesn't like the chair they've got doesn't allow them to behave in such an intolerable manner that they strip half naked and offer money for sex.

"The two just don't equate," he said.

Mr Burns said three hostesses, all aged about 24, were harassed by the men but two had decided against giving evidence in court.

They have all now returned to work after being counselled and given two weeks off work to recover from their ordeal, he said.

Snaith and Evans were convicted yesterday of the sexual harassment and assault of one airline hostess onboard the flight to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi's Criminal Court found Evans guilty of sexual assault and he was sentenced to a twelve-month custodial sentence, suspended for three years, according to UAE news agency WAM.

He had also been charged with public exposure and indecency after allegedly removing his clothing and repeatedly exposing himself during the flight.

Snaith was convicted of sexual harassment and given a three-month custodial sentence, suspended for three years.

He had also been charged with unlawful consumption of cocaine and hashish after traces of both were returned in a positive drugs test.

However, it was deemed by the court that Snaith's positive drug test was the result of consumption prior to his departure for the United Arab Emirates.

He was also charged with the use of offensive language in a public place.

The court heard testimony from one of the female cabin crew who had been a victim of the mid-air ordeal.

Evidence was provided of a catalogue of offensive, sexually-orientated acts and offers committed under the influence of alcohol.

Mr Sargent was acquitted on two charges – the unlawful consumption of Temazepam and the use of offensive language in a public place.

It's believed he will leave Abu Dhabi within hours, and continue his journey to London.

Mr Sargent told the Nine Network that his jailers "went out of their way to be extremely kind and receptive to my needs and wishes".