Abu Dhabi deports Australian for 'insulting' Facebook post

Abu Dhabi

An Australian woman was deported from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after being arrested and fined for "insulting" social media posts, according to a judicial source in Abu Dhabi.

Jodi Magi, 39, appeared in an Abu Dhabi court and was taken into custody on July 12 before being placed on a flight to Bangkok -- her "destination of choice" -- on Tuesday evening, the same source said.

The trouble began in February, when she posted on her Facebook page a photo of a car illegally parked between two places reserved for disabled drivers near her apartment in Abu Dhabi.

The picture was accompanied by "insulting, degrading remarks", said the source.

Following a complaint from the car's owner, a European, Magi admitted having posted the photo online but not the incriminating text, the source added.

In April, the Australian was sentenced in absentia to pay a fine of 10,000 dirhams ($2,720) and deportation.

She appeared in court with a lawyer and interpreter to appeal against the verdict the following month, but to no avail and her sentence was confirmed in June.

Magi posted on her personal website late Tuesday that she was going to "decompress in Laos" after being in custody for 53 hours.