Engaged couple arrested in the UAE after surprise pregnancy

A South African man and his fiancée have spent almost two months behind bars in the UAE after authorities discovered the woman was pregnant.

Emlyn Culverwell‚ 29 from South Africa, and Iryna Nohai, 27 from the Ukraine were reportedly arrested in January 29 after they visited a doctor.

Ms Nohai was complaining of stomach cramps which were diagnosed to be the early stages of a pregnancy.

Before the couple could celebrate the doctor notified the authorities who arrested the pair for having sex before marriage.

Since their arrest Mr Culverwell's mother Linda and Ms Nohai's father Karl have been able to obtain little information about the fate of their children who are understood to be behind bars awaiting formal charges, News 24 reports.

Doctors are performing more tests on the 27-year-old to try and determine how long she has been sexually active.

"For heaven’s sake, how can they supposedly determine that?" Ms Culverwell said.

"I can imagine the hell she is going through. It must feel as if she is being raped by the authorities."

Times Live reports the couple appeared before a judge only once and were denied bail and state appointed legal representation.

The couple's parents said it feels like they are "hitting a brick wall" with the South African Government providing little help or advice other than to hire legal representation, the BBC reports.

Mr Culverwell's mother said she had contacted the Ukrainian embassy in hopes of granting the pair permission to be married in prison however the request was denied by a judge, Time Live reports.