Dubai: A student and a restaurant manager have been jailed for life for possessing marijuana for trading purposes and with the purpose of providing it to others.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 23-year-old Australian student, F.F., and the 34-year-old British restaurant manager, M.S., of possessing 4.1 grams of marijuana for trading purposes.
Presiding judge Ali Attiyah Sa’ad jailed a 28-year-old Singaporean company manager, X.R., for five years for possessing marijuana and providing it to F.F. to consume it.
“X.R. was also fined Dh20,000,” said presiding judge Sa’ad in courtroom three. “All the defendants will be deported following the completion of their punishments.”
M.S. was also accused of possessing marijuana and providing it to X.R. to consume it.
The defendants pleaded not guilty and firmly rejected their long list of drug charges when they appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
An Emirati anti-narcotics police major testified that F.F. was arrested in a sting operation selling marijuana for Dh2000 to a police informant in Al Rifaa.
“We arrested the Australian around 9.30pm inside his car after selling the drug to our informant,” said the lieutenant. “We also seized the police money in his wallet. Police seized a pouch of marijuana in the door pocket of his car. He claimed during questioning that M.S. and X.R. provided him with the drug. Drug enforcement officers raided the defendants’ residences and seized marijuana in their possession.”
Thursday’s verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
