UAE | Crime
Austin pardoned after drug conviction
American hip-hop producer Dallas Austin was pardoned shortly after a court convicted him of possessing cocaine for personal use, high-level judicial sources told Gulf News on Tuesday.
- By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 July 5, 2006
Dubai: American hip-hop producer Dallas Austin was pardoned shortly after a court convicted him of possessing cocaine for personal use, high-level judicial sources told Gulf News on Tuesday.
The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 34-year-old producer to four years in prison to be followed by deportation.
"Austin has been pardoned. Yesterday, he was moved from Al Rashidiya police station to the Dubai Central Prison. It cannot be confirmed exactly when he will be released and deported. He will be travelling as soon as his lawyers finalise the legal procedures," sources said.
Mohammad Al Redha, Austin's legal representative in the UAE, confirmed that the Grammy-winning hip-hop producer had been pardoned.
"I can confirm the pardon, but I don't know how and when legal procedures to deport him will be carried out," Al Redha told Gulf News on Tuesday night.
The songwriter himself could not be reached in his detention cell "due to technical and administrative reasons, specially after the relocation of the Central Jail from Jumeirah to Al Aweer," according to the jail operator.
He said private phone calls to detainees as well as jail visits have been temporarily halted.
Dubai Public Prosecution had charged Austin with possessing drugs for personal use after his arrest on May 19 at Dubai International Airport, when he was reportedly on his way to attend supermodel Naomi Campbell's private birthday bash in Dubai.
He was carrying 1.26 grammes of cocaine and five-and-a-half capsules containing banned substance when he was detained.
NOT ANOTHER ONE, SAYS JUDGE
"Not another one," exclaimed judge Mahmoud Al Sharshabi when he called on an American suspect, identified as L.P., in his mid 20s.
The suspect is being tried for drug-related charges.
Dubai Public Prosecution charged L.P. with possessing and consuming cocaine. The defendant confessed to the charges. The Dubai Court of First Instance adjourned till next week.
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