Managers cleared of tampering with milk powder dates

Dubai: A court has acquitted four managers of a multinational dairy products company yesterday from charges of tampering with the dates on powder milk products.

The Dubai Court of Cassation confirmed that the two Emirati company owners, G.A. and M.H., and two Asian managers, M.J. and S.K., have been cleared of manipulating expiry dates on milk powder and endangering the lives of thousands yesterday.

The Public Prosecution referred the case to the court in 2005 where the managers were given different jail terms by the lower courts before they were finally cleared yesterday over uncorroborated evidence.

A fleet of lawyers defended the managers who were given various charges including endangering the lives of consumers by manipulating the expiry date of milk powder products, commercial fraud and hiring illegal workers.

Lawyers Salim Al Sha'ali and Khalifa Al Salman said in their defence: "The company's owner was acting out of good intentions since the local authorities were aware and authorised his company to change the expiry dates on the packages. The milk's properties were unaffected."

Defence lawyer Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi argued that the milk specimen wasn't taken according to the regular procedures stipulated in laws combating commercial fraud.

Advocate Samir Jaafar said: "The Municipality's procedures were unlawful and unsafe. The laboratory test was not up to the ordinary standards."

Defence lawyer Nasser Hashim also told the court that the factory was licenced to change expiry dates as the product was re-exported to many countries.

Lawyers also said that the Dubai Municipality inspector was supposed to properly store the sample.