UAE | Crime
Renowned British DJ jailed for four years for possession of marijuana
A well-known British DJ has been jailed for four years for illegally bringing in and possessing marijuana.
- By Bassam Zaza, Senior Reporter
- Published: 09:28 February 19, 2008
- The DJ was arrested at Dubai Airport on November 23, 2007
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Dubai: A famous British disc jockey will spend four years in prison for bringing in and possessing 2.16 grams of marijuana, a court ruled yesterday.
The Dubai Court of First Instance found the 40-year-old DJ guilty of bringing in and possessing marijuana for personal use, as charged by the Public Prosecution.
The accused, who will be deported after serving his term, claimed he was unaware that he possessed marijuana which was seized from him at Dubai International Airport.
"I did not know the drugs were in my possession," R.W. told the court earlier.
Medical reports said tetra-hydro cannabinol, an active component of hashish, was found in the defendant's urine.
R.W.'s lawyers Mohammad Al Redha and Mohammad Al Suwaidi presented their defence earlier this month.
Al Redha and Al Suwaidi said they had been asked not to give any statements to the media.
However, the lawyers argued in their defence: "The suspect forgot the substance was in his pants and had no intention of bringing it to Dubai... he brought it here by mistake and forgot to remove it...he didn't have evil motives..."
A 24-year-old customs inspector testified: "The accused came at the arrivals terminal on November 23, 2007, around 8.40pm. I asked him for his passport and took him to the search room.
"I didn't find anything when I searched him personally. I found the marijuana in his luggage. When I confronted him with the findings, he said it was marijuana and for his personal use. He claimed that he mistakenly forgot it was in his trousers."
The customs inspector said the suspect admitted to him that "he takes marijuana in Britain."
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