Drugs accused blames sample mix-up, Abu Dhabi court hears

A defendant accused of taking drugs claimed that police had mistakenly swapped his urine sample for another.

ABU DHABI // A defendant accused of taking drugs claimed that police mistakenly swapped his urine sample for another.

On Monday, S M, an Emirati, told Abu Dhabi Criminal Court that there were numerous errors in his case.

He said a urine sample he gave on May 24 was labelled number 227.

A second report issued 17 days later that tested positive for drugs had a different number, he told the court.

“Two contradicting reports have been issued for one sample and this does not work,” he said. “This proves there is no link between report one and report two.

“I am not an expert in legal issues but I know the difference between right and wrong,” he said.

He said the case was built on “mistakes by forensics police”, adding, “no one is immune to making mistakes”.

S M’s lawyer, Hadeya Al Hammadi, said the realities of the case differed from the version presented in the case files.

“He went to do a routine check-up, so is it logical for him to consume hashish before undergoing a check up to test for drugs?” she said.

She said her client had denied the allegations from the start.

“The arrest and inspection procedures were also invalid because they were conducted without a permit from public prosecution.”

A verdict will be announced at the end of the month, the court decided.