UAE | Crime
Court upholds four-year term for drug peddler in Fujairah
The Appeal Court has upheld a four-year jail term for a drug convict and ordered the re-trial of another two suspects in the same case.
- By Fuad Ali, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:30 November 21, 2008
Fujairah: The Appeal Court has upheld a four-year jail term for a drug convict and ordered the re-trial of another two suspects in the same case.
The Fujairah Criminal Court had previously ruled that it had no jurisdiction to try the second and third suspects in a drug and immigration trial, given that the prosecution could not prove that the two had broken UAE laws within the country's territory.
The case started last April, when a patrol near the border with Oman spotted a car moving suspiciously, which ignored orders to stop.
After a brief chase, the car was intercepted. Police found six illegal immigrants and two smugglers inside.
A search revealed a small amount of drugs and, after further interrogation, the men were all subjected to narcotic tests, which returned positive results for Q.A.K., and B.B.K. Analysis of the suspects' samples revealed traces of heroin, morphine and codeine.
Charge
Another suspect, M.A.R., was charged with importing and possessing opium, and all three were also charged with entering the country illegally.
According to court papers, three three suspects admitted travelling from Iran and through Oman in search of employment.
The two suspects who tested positive for drugs admitted to the act but argued through their lawyers that they consumed drugs in Oman and not in the UAE.
The criminal court ruled the prosecution could not provide evidence to the contrary and thus the court had no jurisdiction over the matter.
The court jailed the first suspect, M.A.R., for four years and a further three months for all three, to be followed by deportation- for immigration-related charges. The first suspect and the public prosecution lodged an appeal with the Fujairah Appeal Court.
The court upheld the sentence against M.A.R. but threw out the ruling claiming lack of jurisdiction and ordered a re-trial for Q.A.K., and B.B.K. on the same charges.
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