Dubai: An American war veteran, who consumes tramadol as medication for a painful injury that he sustained during the Kuwaiti War, had his seven-year imprisonment replaced by a Dh20,000 fine on Sunday.

The 43-year-old US former soldier, J.S., has been serving a seven-year jail term since September when the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted him of importing 592 tramadol pills. He was also fined Dh50,000.

On Sunday, the Dubai Appeal Court commuted J.S.’s imprisonment and Dh50,000 fine to just a Dh20,000 fine after his lawyer Saeed Al Gailani argued that his client uses tramadol to treat his old injury.

“He did not import the mind-altering substance… it was his mother who sent it from the United States without him requesting it or his knowledge,” Al Gailani contended in court.

“The court has approved the defendant’s appeal and cancelled the primary ruling. He will have to pay a Dh20,000 fine followed by deportation,” said presiding judge Eisa Al Sharif in courtroom 20.

J.S. entered a not guilty plea before the appellate court where he is disputing a seven-year imprisonment that he was handed for importing 592 tramadol pills.

“My client is a former soldier who participated in the war in Kuwait in the ’90s. A massive explosion during a ground battle caused him a severe injury. He underwent several operations after shrapnel tore into different parts of his body and fractured his hips. He has a number of medical metal plates implanted in his body. The US health ministry prescribed tramadol as a painkiller since then. He lived in the US for a while, then came to Dubai looking for a job,” his lawyer told the court.

Drugs prosecutors charged J.S. with importing tramadol illegally.

The lawyer told the court that J.S. acted legitimately since he came to work in Dubai. He visited a clinic from where he obtained a prescription to possess and consume tramadol for medical purposes.

“Recently, his pain increased and, while talking to his US-based mother, she took the initiative and sent him the tramadol pills. He did not order it. The tramadol pills [that his mother sent] were discovered in the consignment once it arrived. We have provided the court with documents obtained from the notary public in the US and they were notarised by the pertinent authorities,” said Al Gailani.

The lawyer said J.S. consumes seven pills a day and his mother sent him what he needed for a period of three months.

“His mother acted with good intention… she did not intend to land him in trouble with the law,” concluded the lawyer.

Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 30 days before the Cassation Court.