There are fears a Sydney train driver accused of spying in the United Arab Emirates has been tortured in prison and may face a firing squad.
Naim Aziz Abbas, 63, was arrested in October last year in Dubai on suspicion of espionage, it's been reported.
His brother Adil, who lives in Sydney, has told the ABC the charges were "fabricated" after Naim was questioned by an intelligence officer during meetings in a coffee shop.
The Australian also interviewed Mr Adil Abbas and reports Mr Abbas disappeared into the UAE's state security apparatus following several mysterious meetings with a UAE spy in October.
The brother said he urged Mr Abbas to tell the Australian embassy of the meetings just in case and later had a phone call from Mr Abbas, who told him he'd been arrested but it was a misunderstanding and he was in "safe hands".
The brother told The Australian he had the impression from the call Mr Abbas couldn't speak freely or he was being monitored.
In a meeting last week, a Dubai prosecutor told the Australian consul that Mr Abbas's phone was being forensically tested and witnesses interviewed, The Australian reports.
Mr Abbas is a diabetic who needs medication and his brother fears he has been tortured in detention.
Iraqi-born Naim Abbas, who is an Australian citizen, moved to Dubai in 2009 to work for the UAE Roads and Transport Authority.
The ABC reported that an Australian diplomat had met with the UAE's State Security Prosecutor on February 8 to discuss the case and seek consular access to Mr Abbas.
DFAT has confirmed its officials are trying to visit Mr Abbas in prison.
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