Dubai: American music producer Dallas Austin pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine before a Dubai court judge who rejected his lawyer's appeal to hold the hearing behind closed doors on Sunday.
The 34-year-old suspect pleaded guilty to possessing 1.26 grams of cocaine and five-and-a-half capsules of cocaine and an MDM drug before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
He told presiding judge Mahmoud Al Sharshabi that he knows that possessing or using cocaine is forbidden but he "did not intend to use it in the UAE" and that he brought it into the country by mistake.
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 the hearings.
He was wearing a white short-sleeved jersey, blue jeans, sneakers and a shining earring in his left ear.
Prior to the hearing, Austin hugged and kissed a female who was said to be his business manager. Besides Al Rida, and Austin's Bahraini lawyer Qays Hatem Al Zu'bi, his American lawyers also flew into Dubai especially to attend the hearing.
Judge Al Sharshabi adjourned the case a verdict is expected to be issued on July 4.
Dubai Public Prosecution charged Austin with possessing drugs for personal use after his arrest on May 19 at Dubai International Airport when he was coming to attend Naomi Campbell's private birthday party in Dubai.
He has crafted beats for Madonna, Michael Jackson, Brandy, TLC, Aretha Franklin, the Indigo Girls and Boyz II Men, Fishbone and owns Rowdy Records.
