UAE | General
US hip-hop producer pleads guilty to charges
Judge refuses plea for closed-door hearing
- Published: 00:00 July 3, 2006
By Bassam Za'za'
Staff Reporter
Dubai American hip-hop producer Dallas Austin yesterday pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine before a Dubai court judge.
The 34-year-old Atlanta-based celebrity pleaded guilty to possessing 1.26 grammes of cocaine and five-and-a-half capsules of cocaine and an MDM drug before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
Dubai Public Prosecution charged Austin with possessing drugs for personal use after his arrest on May 19 at Dubai International Airport.
When presiding judge Mahmoud Al Sharshabi read out Austin's charges in Arabic, (a translator translated it to English), the American songwriter said he knows that possessing and using cocaine is forbidden and he "did not intend to use it in the UAE" and that he brought it into the country by "mistake".
His lawyer Mohammad Al Redha told the bench of three judges that his client possessed drugs for personal use "but not inside the country".
Judge Al Sharshabi turned down Al Redha's appeal to "hold a session towards the end of the hearing behind closed doors because the defendant is a known personality". The judge said, "it is a very ordinary case and the suspect does not require secrecy".
Austin walked into the courtroom from a side door linked to an underground cell from where jail guards bring in detainees and defendants to attend court hearings. He was wearing a white short-sleeved jersey, blue jeans, sneakers and a shiny earring in his left ear.
Prior to the hearing, Austin hugged and kissed a woman who was said to be his business manager. Besides Al Redha and Austin's Bahraini lawyer Qays Hatem Al Zu'bi, his American lawyers flew into Dubai especially to attend the hearing.
The judge adjourned the case to issue a verdict on July 4.
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
