The family of a British hotelier "unlawfully" jailed in Dubai since 2008 has called on the Metropolitan Police to probe alleged human rights abuses.
Ryan Cornelius, 68, has been held arbitrarily in the UAE for nearly 15 years, the United Nations ' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in June.
His relatives have now submitted a request to the Met's War Crimes Team over what they claim to be a "breach of both international and UAE law".
Ryan's wife, Heather Cornelius, has accused the UK Government of "doing nothing" in response to the ruling and "consistently refusing to acknowledge that her husband has been wronged".
She told The Mirror: "It is utterly shameful that a British citizen should need to look to the United Nations for a judgement which his own Government has been too cowardly to make."
She added: "He is in very bad health. He is repeatedly told by his jailers that he will never get out of prison."
Heather also called on Tory leadership hopeful Liz Truss to respond to the UN's ruling "in her own words", and "not through the wishy-washy statements of her officials".
Ryan was initially handed a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of fraud for his alleged part in illegally obtaining a loan from Dubai Islamic Bank to build a real estate project known as The Plantation.
Two months before the property developer's release date in 2018, he was served a new 20-year sentence based on "Law 37" - a piece of UAE legislation that was brought in after his initial sentencing.
This enables a creditor to keep a debtor in prison if their loan has not been fully repaid.
Ben Keith, Ryan's lawyer in the UK, said: "We are requesting that the Metropolitan Police conduct an investigation into these human rights abuses under the law of Universal Jurisdiction which allows for individuals to be prosecuted for committing and assisting in torture in foreign states."
The UN Working Group has recommended that Ryan be "immediately released" and "compensated for rights abuses" faced while in detention.
It said Ryan has been subjected to "aggressive" interrogations without legal representation and "prolonged" periods of solitary confinement.
The body of human rights experts also expressed grave concerns over the dad-of-three contracting tuberculosis in prison and being denied medication, saying he faces what "effectively constitutes a life sentence" due to his declining health and age.
It further called on the UAE to open an investigation into the justifications for the businessman's imprisonment.
A cross party group of five MPs and seven peers previously wrote to Ms Truss requesting that the UK Government "display the same energy to secure his release as it did with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe".
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British man detained in the UAE. We have been in close contact with the UAE authorities to ensure that the welfare of all British people in UAE prisons is met.”
The UAE embassy in the UK says Ryan was given a "fair trial in which all due processes were followed" and that his sentence was "lawfully extended".
A spokesperson said: "The whereabouts of the funds Mr Cornelius obtained are unknown.
"The UAE judicial system is independent and equitable, and guarantees the mandatory presence of a translator at all stages, the right to seek a lawyer at all stages, the provision of a lawyer at the state’s expense if the defendant cannot appoint legal counsel, and the right to appeal.
"In line with international standards, the UAE has stringent laws, regulations and procedures in place to ensure the physical and psychological wellbeing of detainees in its prisons.
"All inmates receive medical care as required. UAE state-level officials, the Public Prosecution, and diplomatic missions regularly visit correctional institutions, including the prison Mr Cornelius is held in, to verify and maintain the high standards of living conditions and treatment.”
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: "We can confirm that the Met’s War Crimes Unit, part of the Counter Terrorism Command, received a referral on 14 July 2022 which relates to allegations of torture.
"The referral is being assessed by officers, in accordance with the CPS war crimes and crimes against humanity referral guidelines, and a decision will then be taken on whether to open an investigation."
