Katie Price has disclosed that her husband, Lee Andrews, has been detained in Dubai on suspicion of espionage. The 48-year-old former glamour model shared the update after Andrews contacted her from a phone booth at Al Awir prison, finally explaining his whereabouts after nearly two weeks of silence.
Lee Andrews' Arrest and Allegations
Andrews went missing for two weeks before Price claimed to have spoken with him. She revealed he was held in a notorious Dubai prison and had been interrogated by authorities. Following a brief one-minute conversation, Price stated: "I have found him – he is alive, and he is ok. I told him how worried I had been and told him I loved him. It was very rushed, but he said the authorities out there thought he was a spy. I don't know much more than that right now."
On her latest podcast episode, Price told her sister Sophie: "All I know is that they thought he was a spy like James Bond. He could f***ing be James Bond," she added.
What is Espionage?
Espionage, commonly known as spying, is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "the act of secretly collecting confidential, political, military, or industrial information about a country or organisation, typically using spies." In the United Arab Emirates, espionage is a capital offence. Under the UAE Penal Code, sentencing can range from temporary imprisonment to life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the severity of the threat to state security.
Aiding an enemy, conspiring against the state, or passing confidential information to foreign entities or hostile groups is punishable by maximum sentences, including execution or life imprisonment. Lesser offences, such as spying on an individual, intercepting private communications, or taking unauthorised photographs of sensitive sites, can result in heavy fines starting at AED 10,000 (approximately £2,000) to varying prison terms, often accompanied by deportation for expatriates.
Possible Release and Reactions
Price indicated that Andrews could be released on Monday if he pays a four-figure fine. However, Andrews' ex-partner, Alana Percival, expressed scepticism, stating that he had tried similar stories on her before their split. "Watch Monday never come. He told me tomorrow tomorrow for 3 weeks and a spy charge well," she said.
The self-professed millionaire had planned to visit the UK to be with Price and appear on Good Morning Britain, but he went missing after supposedly missing his flight. Price initially raised alarms, claiming he had been kidnapped. Andrews told his wife he was being held in the back of a van with his hands tied, though not handcuffed.
Sharing their last messages, Price explained that the first message from Andrews read: "Been arrested, I’ll be in touch I’m okay," followed by: "It’s a black site, I love you, I sort it. I’m in the van… just being detained wtf." Despite the frantic search, Price spoke to him on May 27 and learned he had been jailed, contrary to her earlier denials.
Phone Activity Explanation
On her podcast, Price addressed why Andrews' phone appeared active despite him being out of touch. She told her sister: "Oh, I did ask him [about his apparent phone activity]. He hasn't been on his phone. He hasn't had his phone. He's been interrogated. They've gone through his phone, so they've been mucking about on his phone. It's not been Lee. He hasn't got his phone."
