A Tipperary man who has spent five years locked in a notorious prison in Abu Dhabi over a debt he couldn’t pay has finally been freed.
However John White cannot leave the country until the 500,000 euro owed is paid off
Mr White, a property developer from Clonmel who had a construction company in the Middle East which built schools, shopping centres and hotels was jailed in 2012 after his firm went bust in the recession.
He was detailed by police in Abu Dhabi before being brought before the courts over debt of half a million euro he owned to creditors but the businessman claimed he was owed far more by other suppliers.
Unable to pay the money he was senteced to 2 years but upon his release he was jailed again for 3 more after another creditor took a civil case,.
The Tipperary man served his time in a four by four cell with six other inmates in one of Abu Dhabi’s notorious prisons with family members here very concerned about his welfare.
Tipp FM understands Mr White has now been released from custody but it’s understood he cannot come home to Ireland at this point because his passport is being held by authorities until he pays back the debts owed.
