Dubai: A Japanese engineer has pleaded guilty to possessing 77 DVDs containing pornographic material and claimed he was unaware such material was unlawful here, a court heard yesterday.
The 33-year-old engineer, identified as Y.K., confessed before the Dubai Court of Appeal yesterday to possessing the DVDs as charged by the Public Prosecution. The Dubai Court of First Instance had earlier sentenced him in absentia to one month in jail.
His lawyer told the presiding judge that Y.K. did not have any criminal intent.
"Possessing such DVDs is a lawful act in Japan whose culture and traditions are different than those of the UAE. Besides, the accused who is a not a Muslim was unaware that it is unlawful and punishable by law to possess pornographic material."
The accused is seeking clemency or a reduced punishment, said the advocate. In his statement Y.K. said he brought the DVDs for personal use. He was arrested at Dubai airport.
