Man cleared because he took drugs in France

Dubai: A man was acquitted yesterday of taking hashish in Dubai after he claimed the drug was still in his system after a ski trip in France.

The Dubai Court of First Instance cleared the 49-year-old defendant, M.F., after the Briton said he went on a three-week skiing trip to France in February and smoked the drug on a daily basis.

"I consumed drugs outside the UAE. I took hashish when I went skiing in France last February," M.F. said. The suspect provided the court with documents confirming he was in France during the time in question.

"I provided prosecutors with a residency report from the concerned department to prove that I travelled on that date," he said.

"I returned to the UAE on February 28."

M.F.'s lawyer asked the judge to acquit his client or dismiss the case because the drug taking happened beyond its jurisdiction.

An Emirati anti-narcotics lieutenant testified that the defendant was detained on March 3.

The lieutenant said: "We detained the suspect around 9pm. We did not find any drugs in his possession."

Records said the defendant tested positive for hashish.

The judgment is subject to appeal within 15 days.