Former UAE expat dies in UK bike crash weeks before planned visit to Sharjah home
'He was trying to negotiate a turn when he skidded and hit a barrier,' Jefferson's elder brother Juvin Justin told Khaleej Times. 'The incident happened on Friday at around 5.30pm when he was on his way home from work. He was going to come visit us next month and we had been looking forward to it.'
According to UK media reports, the accident occurred on Wellington Road in Leeds and police are investigating the cause behind it.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Juvin added that the bike Jefferson rode was not very powerful and that he was a very careful rider. 'The bike could only be used on country roads and not on highways,' he said. 'He used to wear the full gear of helmet, knee pads, gloves and everything when he drove. He was very particular about it. He has been using this bike for over four years.'
Always smiling
Juvin described his brother as someone who was 'always smiling' and wanted to be the reason for other's happiness. 'He was such a sweetheart,' he said. 'He was ready to sacrifice his happiness to make others happy. He was always cheerful and smiling.'`
The middle child of three brothers, Jefferson grew up in Sharjah. He, Juvin and their youngest brother Johnathon, completed their schooling at the Emirates National School in Sharjah. The family has been living in the UAE for over three decades.
The family are now hoping to bring Jefferson's body back to the UAE for burial. 'He loved being here and was planning to come back to settle here sooner or later,' said Juvin. 'We are hoping to bury him here. We are not sure how long the formalities and paperwork will take.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
17 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE authorities warn residents against online fraud, phishing attempts via phone
UAE residents are urged to exercise caution when dealing with phone messages or calls from unknown sources, as per a new note issued by the country's Cybersecurity Council and Abu Dhabi Police on Friday. Authorities called on the public to be mindful when receiving these calls or messages that can be gateways to phishing attempts or online fraud, which has become one of the growing challenges facing the community. "This is particularly evident with the diversity of its forms, the sophistication of its methods, the evolution of digital tools... Online fraud is no longer limited to traditional methods, but now exploits digital services, smart applications, and online networks to lure victims in ways that are often difficult to detect until after the crime has been committed," the UAE Cybersecurity Council said in a statement. Last month, a Khaleej Times investigation uncovered an online trading syndicate in the UAE operating a high-stakes scam through fraudulent call centres, fake trading platforms, and shell companies set up to siphon investor funds. For its part, Abu Dhabi Police warned the public against online fraud attempts, highlighting some methods of deception, including fake advertisements appearing in search engines, fraudulent job offers, and real estate scams. They stressed the importance of using approved applications when making purchases or requesting services. Recommendations Authorities shared tips, saying the public was urged to: Verify the authenticity of electronic links Avoid sharing banking or personal information with untrusted parties Rely only on official applications approved by government entities or available on trusted app stores such as the App Store and Google Play Do not share confidential information with anyone, whether related to bank accounts, cards, online banking passwords, ATM PINs, or the security code (CCV), or other sensitive details. Avoid clicking direct links sent via personal messages Refuse to install programmes under false pretences Never share two-factor authentication codes Review app permissions before installation Deny unnecessary access, such as to messages or administrative settings Continuously update operating systems to fix security gaps, and using certified antivirus software. Apart from these precautionary measures, UAE residents are advised to immediately report any fraud attempts through the Aman Service or via the contact centre at 8002626, SMS at 2828, the Abu Dhabi Police smart app, the email aman@ or the 'Police at Your Phone' service.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
UK tax authority warns of fake social media posts
Claims in a social media video that the British government is tracking taxpayers who travel overseas more than three times a year have been rejected as a fake by the UK 's tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs. The video has been circulated widely in the Middle East, causing alarm among British nationals overseas and UK residents. It claims that from August 4, a new branch of HMRC and the Home Office – called the Mobility Oversight Unit – will check whether a person's employment status and tax record match their lifestyle. This is part of an 'enhanced customs monitoring' programme to tackle benefit fraud and tax evasion, the video and other related social media posts claim. HMRC said the information contained in the video was false. 'This video is disinformation, designed to cause undue alarm and fear. Anyone wanting information on rules around taxation should go to or seek advice from a tax professional,' an HMRC spokesperson said. Many social media users commented under the video that the information was false, but that did not stop it being widely shared. Fact-checking charity Full Fact traced the video back to a TikTok account, where the post had been shared more than 66,000 times and liked by 57,200 accounts. The video claimed the information was first reported by The Guardian, but there was no evidence of this on the newspaper's website. Full Fact added that while there are existing restrictions on the length of travel for people claiming benefits, the system in described in the video does not exist. The Home Office was contacted for comment. British government departments are being targeted with misinformation. One widely shared post on social media says 'the UK government is hiring' for a 'Shariah law administrator'. A separate post claimed 'the role is for the Department of Work and Pensions' alongside a screenshot of a – now deleted – listing for Manchester Community Centre. The job description says the successful candidate will 'provide all admin and secretarial work for Manchester Shariah Council'. In fact, the advert was not for a government job and the administrator was being hired using money a mosque said it had raised through donations. The job was advertised on a portal run by the government, where private employers can post. It is not known whether any of the posts are part of a hostile state-backed cyber campaign. UK government bodies have repeatedly warned of threats from online and phishing operations by actors in Russia and Iran. Earlier this year the UK's National Cyber Security Centre exposed a cyber campaign by military unit 26165 of Russia's GRU intelligence directorate against western logistics providers and technology companies that had been running since 2022.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
UK on edge as protests build outside all-male migrant hotels
The front of the Britannia Hotel in London these days has more police hovering around at the front entrance than guests coming and going. Metal gates block the entrance after it emerged the hotel has been earmarked to house asylum seekers, though none have as yet moved in. Extra security was put in place after protesters began gathering outside the hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, which in turn has attracted counter-demonstrations by anti-racism groups. More than 25,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, with 898 arriving on Wednesday. This influx is causing a headache for a government that has promised to end the use of asylum hotels but is instead turning to more facilities. Protests first hit the headlines from a hotel in Epping, Essex, after an asylum seeker who had been staying there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. The focus of the Epping protesters has been the all-male make up of the asylum seekers living in the hotel. Males represent two thirds of those claiming asylum in the UK, according to official data. On Wednesday night former home secretary Suella Braverman backed a protest in the Hampshire town of Waterlooville, where a set of flats was reportedly being lined up for occupation by asylum seekers. Scenes of a mob setting fire to a hotel in Rotherham and attempting to break in to attack migrants is one of the enduring images of last summer's riots in Britain. One year on, the fear remains that demonstrators could light a nationwide tinderbox, sparking more violence. So far the protests at the Britannia Hotel have been peaceful and demonstrators The National spoke to said they wanted to make their voices heard about the prospect of male asylum seekers moving there. Lee Boys, 43, from nearby Stepney, said the decision to move asylum seekers during the summer holidays was provocative. 'It's worrying," he said. "I just want my kids to be safe and it's the summer holidays as well, so it's the worst possible time they could have done this. It's a bit antagonising.' Mr Boys, a construction worker, said he has been in touch with friends from Epping who have been protesting there and have formed a WhatsApp group to share information about migrants being moved from there to the Britannia. He contrasted the make-up of the migrants with Ukrainian asylum seekers, about 210,000 of whom have settled in the UK. 'When Ukraine happened, there were families coming but these are not families,' he said. 'And they're not just from one country. They're from different countries and we can't control it. 'We don't know who they are. We had terrorism a few years back but they're coming by boat, with no record of who they are.' He also hinted that the issue of migrants being accommodated in hotels has become a lightning rod for wider discontent over squeezed living standards in Britain. 'I've worked all my life. I've never had nothing from our government but they walk in and the first day they get a hotel room but I'm spending £1,500 [$1,985] a month for me and my family,' he said. Another protester, Heidi Stafford, 42, who is from the Canning Town area, also near the hotel, was outside with her two friends. She is an enthusiastic user of TikTok, which serves as a source of news and platform for posting videos for protesters. Ms Stafford told The National: 'Where I live is multicultural, which is not a problem. I've never been out to protest about legal migration but this is different. They want to put large numbers of men here and we're concerned about our kids.' As well as in Epping, at the weekend there were protests against asylum hotels in Norwich, Diss and Manchester, following those in Portsmouth, Leeds and Southampton last week. All have been met with counter-demonstrations, with both sides kept apart by a large police presence. Meanwhile, nervous communities are now looking for a way out, as the potential for serious violence rises. Epping Forest District Council unanimously voted in favour of the motion calling on the government "to immediately and permanently close" the hotel "for the purposes of asylum processing". The hotel in Diss, which has been the target of protesters, has insisted it accommodates families and said it has told the Home Office it will refuse to take single men. The Park Hotel even went as far as saying it would close down rather than accede any such demand. "There are currently vulnerable families and children staying at the hotel, many of whom are feeling frightened and uncertain about the recent events and their futures,' said the hotel. The numbers in hotels has been steadily increasing since 2020, and reached a peak of more than 50,000 in 2023, before falling to 32,345 by March this year. That figure had risen from 29,585 at the end of June 2024, just before Labour came into office. According to Fact Check, there were 71,339 asylum seekers living in other types of non-hotel accommodation at the end of March 2025, compared with 67,057 at the end of June 2024. The Home Office told Fact Check there were 210 asylum hotels currently in use and says it has reduced the figure by more than 70 during its first year in power. The government wants to end the use of hotels by 2029 and has been trying to move asylum seekers into cheaper accommodation. In a bid to achieve that, the Home Office has introduced a Failure to Travel policy aimed at compelling the hundreds of asylum seekers refusing to leave hotels to be transferred to other forms of accommodation every week. Those who refuse to move without a valid reason will now risk losing their housing and support, the Home Office said. Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: "We are working to close hotels, restore order, and put fairness and value for money at the heart of our asylum system. "This government is making those necessary decisions to protect the taxpayer and uphold the integrity of our borders.'
