Special drugs tribunal helps speed up litigation

Dubai: A temporary special drugs tribunal sat at Dubai Courts yesterday to examine 37 cases involving 46 suspects from 14 nationalities.

The tribunal was set up to speed up the litigation process for the backlog of drug cases after the judicial holiday in June and July, Chief Judge Ahmad Ebrahim Saif said yesterday.

"In the past few weeks we received a number of requests from drugs suspects asking us to speed up the litigation process and have them referred to court and sentenced," Chief Judge Saif told Gulf News following tribunal's first session.

"Those suspects were charged with possessing and consuming drugs. The suspects' cases were pending at the public prosecution waiting to be referred for trial. Following several meetings and discussions, the special tribunal was established and yesterday it held its first hearing and looked into 37 cases … the tribunal was established on a temporary basis."

Setting up the tribunal and speeding up the court proceedings was to benefit the suspects, the senior justice official said.

Presiding Judge Adel Ahmad Abdul Rahim chaired the tribunal, assisted by deputy judges Omar Karmasatgi and Salem Mohammad Al Qaidi.

Court records showed that the breakdown of the 46 suspects' nationalities was as follows: 14 Emiratis, nine Iranians, six Pakistanis, three Omanis, three Egyptians, two Saudis, two Burundians, plus a Palestinian, a Kazakhstani, an Indian, a Jordanian, a Briton, an Afghan and a Bangladeshi.

Fair prosecution

Chief Judge Saif said: "We always seek to prosecute suspects fairly and justly … the main aim behind setting up this special tribunal is to achieve swift and adequate justice. During yesterday's hearing, the three-judge panel adjourned some cases for the suspects to present their closing arguments and for other suspects [who pleaded not guilty] to hear prosecution witnesses' statements. The tribunal will issue its judgments in some cases [involving suspects who pleaded guilty] when it reconvenes next time."

On whether there is any possibility of this tribunal becoming permanent, Chief Judge Saif said the concerned authorities would look into the matter.

Cocaine: Coach charged

A 31-year-old British coach has been charged with possessing 5.23 grams of cocaine and consuming the same kind of drug.

An Emirati anti-narcotics first lieutenant from Dubai Police testified that the coach was arrested in front of Safa Park. Police searched his house in Dubai Marina and found the cocaine hidden in a nylon sack.

A 28-year-old Omani lawyer was charged with possessing a piece of hashish weighing 1.45g and a cigarette stuffed with hashish weighing 0.55g, for personal use. He was also charged with consuming hashish.

An Emirati anti-narcotics police sergeant testified that the defendant was caught near a coffee shop in front of Al Nasr Sports Club.