One of five Britons held in the Internet drug smuggling case claims that he and his wife were visiting Dubai on a shopping trip because they had been told that clothes were cheaper there than in the UK.
He also claimed that he and his wife do not know any of the other six members of the alleged gang - three Britons, two Lebanese and one Australian - who are also in jail here awaiting trial.
Gulf News has been told that the Britons are Stacy Simpson, 25, and his wife Anna Maria Kid, 22, Anna Hamilton, 24, Danny Molph, 42, who has lived in Dubai for 17 years, and Emirates flight attendant Catherine Jenkins, 27.
The two Lebanese were identified as Abdul Hamid Al Dandashi, 22, and Jamal Sadeq, 34. The Australian woman has been identified only as Hayde. No other personal details have been released.
All are alleged to be part of a gang of drug smugglers who used the Internet to coordinate their activities. At the time of their arrest police said further arrests could be expected. None has been announced.
In an interview at Al Maamourah Prison, Simpson said that he arrived in Dubai with his wife on October 23 from Amsterdam. They had decided to visit the UAE to buy clothes on the recommendation of a friend.
They went from the airport to a hotel where they stayed for a few hours before taking a tour of the city. When they returned, they found three plainclothes policemen waiting for them. Upon being taken to Ras Al Khaimah a urine test for drugs was conducted which, he admitted, proved positive.
But he insisted that no drugs had been found on him or his wife and that he did not know any of the other accused. Simpson said he had not been allowed to speak to his wife since their arrest two months ago.
Dr Ibrahim Al Mulla, who is representing three of the Britons, said that even if the medical tests were positive and showed that his clients used drugs, that would not give the authorities the right to arrest them since they had not taken the drugs in the UAE.
He added that his clients had arrived from Amsterdam, where using small quantities of drugs is not a crime. His clients insisted that they were innocent and had suggested they were being framed by people unknown.
A lawyer for one of the Lebanese questioned the length of time it has taken to bring charges. The lawyer, who asked not to be named, said charges should normally be brought within two or three weeks. No reason had been given for this lengthy delay.
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's office said it was awaiting the results of tests conducted on all seven. A senior official said the investigation had to be very thorough because of the quantity of drugs seized. He did not provide details of the type or quantities of drugs.
