Dutch Footballer Quincy Promes Endures Harsh Conditions in UAE Prison
Quincy Promes, the Dutch footballer renowned for his stints with Ajax and Sevilla, finds himself grappling with brutal living conditions in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) prison, where he is serving a six-year sentence for involvement in a drug smuggling operation.
Promes, 32, was sentenced in February after being implicated in smuggling 1,363kg of cocaine, with an estimated value of £65 million. This came on the heels of an earlier 18-month sentence in June 2023 for assaulting his cousin.
Recent reports shed light on Promes’ dire circumstances in the UAE prison, where he is confined to a cell designed for 20 inmates. According to sources cited by the Daily Mail, Promes shares a cramped six-person cell, where he sleeps on a double bunk bed alongside up to 20 other prisoners occupying the floor space.
Life behind bars is harsh for Promes, who is granted limited opportunities for exercise, devoid of any equipment. Additionally, the absence of fruits and vegetables in the prison diet poses challenges to maintaining physical health.
Despite being allowed television privileges outside his cell during the day, Promes is subject to the harsh regimentation of prison life, including mandatory head shaving upon entry and the constant threat of punishment for rule violations.
The prison environment is described as cold and noisy, with insufficient supervision leading to daily incidents of violence, including reported cases of rape. Promes’ immediate surroundings comprise predominantly Pakistani, Egyptian, and Indian inmates, unaware of his celebrity status.
Amidst his plight, Promes has expressed a preference for extradition to Russia over the Netherlands, where he faces potential tax fraud charges. However, extradition proceedings are expected to be protracted, with uncertain outcomes.
Promes’ lawyers have underscored the complexities of the extradition process, emphasizing the inherent uncertainty and formalities involved. As Promes navigates his legal battles from behind bars, the reality of his harsh confinement underscores the challenges faced by high-profile individuals ensnared in legal entanglements abroad.
