Marcus Fakana, 19, who was jailed in Dubai for a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, has died in a car crash in Tottenham, north London, three months after his release. The Metropolitan Police said officers attempted to stop a vehicle on Pretoria Road at around 12.52am on Friday, but lost sight of it after a short pursuit. The vehicle was later found involved in a collision on The Roundway.
Fakana was taken to hospital but died from his injuries. A driver, Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, 19, of Tottenham, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a licence, and failing to stop. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed.
Fakana was sentenced to a year in prison in Dubai for having sex with a minor, as the age of consent in the UAE is 18. He received a royal pardon in July after serving several months. Radha Stirling of Detained in Dubai said his imprisonment caused 'long-lasting mental anguish' and that his death is a 'painful reminder of how precious life is'.
Tributes on social media expressed shock and sorrow. One supporter wrote: 'I fought for you to be released from prison in Dubai, I did my best and this is how it ended.' Fakana's family have asked for privacy.
