Four smugglers of petroleum products jailed, fined Dh150k

Ras Al Khaimah - Each of them was ordered to serve a jail term and pay a fine of Dh150,000.

The Ras Al Khaimah criminal court has convicted four of the six Asian sailors involved in smuggling 700 tonnes of petroleum products into the UAE.
Each of them was ordered to serve a jail term and pay a fine of Dh150,000.
The court, presided over by Chief Judge Sameh Shaker, sentenced two residents to two years in jail while the other two suspects have to serve six months in prison.
Two sailors were acquitted.
The court also ordered the confiscation of the smuggled petroleum products, along with the motor boat the suspects used.
According to court records, RAK coast guards spotted a ship supplying fuel to one of the fishing motor boats in the UAE regional waters. Six people on board were arrested and referred to the RAK public prosecution, which charged them with a number of violations.
They were charged with trespassing into the regional waters of the country without a permit, carrying inflammable products without informing the authorities, and transporting petroleum products without a licence.
They were also accused of trading petroleum products without a licence, sailing in banned areas, and failing to secure medical services on board. No fire-extinguishing equipment was found on the ship, which was another violation.
Denying the charges, the suspects said they were heading to one of the ports in the country to deliver the products.
The defence lawyer told the court that the ship was licensed for transporting petroleum products. He added that all the details of the shipment were registered and available at the port from where the vessel was loaded. The RAK criminal court adjourned the case with the final verdict.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com