Qatari shaikh asks Dubai judge for acquittal

Dubai: A Qatari shaikh facing trial for smuggling, possessing and consuming hashish has asked a court to dismiss his case a few weeks after his brother's case was dismissed.

He was charged with bringing in and possessing 12.85 grams of hashish and consuming tetra-hydro cannabinol (THC), an active component of hashish which was found in his urine.

The shaikh, who pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance, asked the judge to disregard his confession during police questioning because he was misled by his interrogators.

He also claimed that the law enforcement procedures were unlawfully carried out against him because the anti-narcotics police failed to conduct a thorough investigation about the tip-off.

He argued that the seized drugs did not belong to him as the place where he was staying was used by a number of people. He added no drugs were found in his possession at the time of his arrest.

He asked the court to acquit him or dismiss the case because the case was outside the court's jurisdiction. The brothers arrived in Dubai on December 14 and were detained in the early hours of December 16.