DUBAI // A British tourist initially found not guilty of possessing drugs with the intent to supply had the verdict overturned and was sentenced to life in prison.
At Dubai Criminal Court in January, HH, 31, denied the drugs charge and was acquitted but prosecutors appealed and won.
On May 25 last year, the Briton was caught in a police sting operation with 162.33 grams of cocaine and MDMA, the powder form of the drug commonly known as ecstasy.
Prosecutors said that the defendant had confessed during police and prosecution investigations and said he sold some of the cocaine to a man for Dh20,000.
Emirati police captain AL, 36, testified that he was assigned by his department to be part of the arrest team.
“I was informed that a meeting between the defendant and a police source was already arranged during which the defendant, known as ‘Sam’, will sell cocaine to the source in return for Dh20,000,” said the captain.
He added that at the car park of a hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, the defendant met with the police source and handed him the drugs and took his money.
At that point, police were signalled and HH was arrested and taken to the apartment he was staying at in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
“We searched the apartment and found more drugs,” said the captain.
The Dubai Court of Appeal also ordered his deportation after the completion of his 25-year prison term.
salamir@thenational.ae
