Man found with expired drug detained

Dubai: A man found in possession of a medicine containing a mind-altering-substance which expired 13 years ago has been detained for almost two months.

The 33-year-old Emirati suspect appeared in Dubai Court of Misdemeanour yesterday where he is being tried for consuming 5 pills of Ativan-Iorazepam which contains diazepam.

His lawyer Mohammad Al Redha, of Mohammad Al Redha Advocates and Legal Consultants, told the judge during Sunday's hearing: "Law enforcement officers found in my client's possession medicine which contains a mind-altering substance and which expired in 1994. The substance is unfit for human consumption; besides his urine tested negative for drugs."

The Public Prosecution charged the suspect with possessing five pills of Ativan-Iorazepam, which contains diazepam, for personal use.

He was charged with possessing a mind-altering substance which is included under Federal Penal Law no 14 of 1995 and which was amended by law no 1 of 2005.

Al Redha argued that a doctor prescribed the medicine to his client who was being treated for insomnia and pains in his knee joints since 1994.

A hearing will be held next week.