Court clears man of drug possession

Sharjah: The Sharjah Appeals Court has acquitted a man of drug possession, a crime for which he had been sentenced to seven years in jail.

The Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision that found him guilty of violating drugs rules.

Salem Obaid Bin Sahoo, the defendant’s lawyer, pointed out that the appeals court acquitted his client of the charge after testing approved that his client was not a drug addict and he had denied possession or ownership of the drug found.

The Arab suspect was charged with possession of tramadol. He was arrested at Sharjah International Airport a few months ago and was convicted by the Sharjah Criminal Court where he was sentenced to seven years in jail.

Bin Sahoo appealed the decision contending that the prosecution failed to prove his guilt.

The accused was charged with attempting to smuggle tramadol into the country by hiding four strips in his luggage inside packages of home-made food prepared in his home country and sent to another person who was waiting for the suspect in the waiting hall.

The appeal court acquitted the suspect after he denied possession or ownership of the drug.

Bin Sahoo said the other person who was waiting at the airport also denied any connection with the drug. The accused told authorities that he was only delivering the food to someone waiting for him outside,

Both the men were arrested and referred to the concerned authorities and the relevant court issued its verdict in the case and acquitted the man who was waiting at the arrival hall of the charge of drug possession.