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Man gets 14-yr jail for drugs smuggling

He was caught red handed, as the drugs were found hidden in the front seat of his car. The public prosecution prayed that he be penalized according to the rulings of Islamic Shariah, and the anti-drugs law No. 14/95.

The Abu Dhabi Shariah Criminal Court found Suleiman guilty of bringing hashish into the country. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, effective from the date of arrest, to be followed by deportation, besides being slapped with a fine of Dh50,000, and additional jail term of 4 years for drug abuse.

The accused contested the verdict at the Abu Dhabi Shariah Court of Appeal, which dismissed his petition. The convict, however, approached the Supreme Federal Court, which annulled the previous verdict, and sent the case to the Court of Appeal for a fresh hearing before a new bench of judges.

The new bench of the court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the lower court. Therefore, the accused approached the apex court, claiming that he was forced to give his earlier confessions. He also argued that the witnesses were forced to give their testimonies. Above all, there were no conclusive evidences against him.

The apex court rejected the convict's claims, underlining the lower court's authority to assess and evaluate the evidences and testimonies. The procedures of search and arrest followed were, in addition, valid, the court held. Significantly, the hashish was found under the front seat next to the convict. Traces of hashish were also found on the same seat and in the convict's urine, the court noted.

The witnesses moreover stated that the convict had brought the hashish from Al Braimy area in Oman. Relying on the statement of the undercover agent, who confirmed that the accused asked him for a customer to buy hashish, and the other evidences, the apex court dismissed the convict's plea, and upheld the verdict of lower court.

• UAE