Abu Dhabi police release missing Taiwan traveler

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Taiwanese man who was taken away by armed police during a transit in Abu Dhabi has been freed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Yunlin resident surnamed Chen (陳), 66, and his wife were transiting on their way to join a tour in Istanbul when five armed men took him away after they arrived in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 24. He went missing for several days, while his spouse alerted the authorities and used social media to call for help.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its mission in Dubai, located him at a police station. He was freed and has been staying at a dormitory provided by the Taiwan office, the ministry said.

Since the period from Saturday to Dec. 2 is an official holiday in the United Arab Emirates, Chen will have to return to the police station on Dec. 3 to obtain the cancellation of a travel ban.

As to the cause for his arrest and detention, the ministry said this had not been cleared up yet.

In a message to his wife, Chen suggested his ordeal might have been a case of mistaken identity. He said police might have confused him with a suspect who bore the same name and surname.

During questioning, police mentioned that he had been sentenced by a local court in October last year, even though he had never visited the country before, Chen said.

Chen said he was kept at a national security facility at the airport until noon the day after he arrived. He was moved to three other locations, including a police station in Dubai where he stayed from Tuesday evening until Friday.

During his stay at detention centers and police stations, he met people from China, Taiwan, and other countries who talked to him and helped him to some degree, he said.