Dubai policeman jailed for plan to frame man with drugs walks free on appeal

Emirati officer was sentenced to 10 years by Dubai Criminal Court for possessing poppy seeds to frame a business partner but the appeals court has found him not guilty.

DUBAI // A police officer sentenced to 10 years in jail for planning to frame a business partner using poppy seeds has been found not guilty by Dubai Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Emirati who worked at Dubai General Department of Punitive and Correctional Establishments, along with two Pakistanis aged 31 and 50, were all charged with possessing 9.29 grammes of the seeds, which are banned in the UAE.

The officer was accused of plotting to frame his business partner so he could take control of the entire company.

The 50-year-old defendant was also charged with having an additional 140.64g of poppy seeds.

The policeman and the 31-year-old, who is the officer’s driver, had denied the charges against them at Dubai Criminal Court but the 50-year-old pleaded guilty.

Dubai Criminal Court sentenced the policeman to 10 years in January, the 50-year-old to four years and deportation, while the driver was found not guilty.

Prosecutors said Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics department received a tip-off about the officer, after which they obtained an arrest warrant and set him up in a sting operation on February 28 last year.

During questioning, the Emirati said he got the seeds from the 50-year-old Pakistani man, who was then arrested in cooperation with Sharjah Police.

He said he was asked by the Emirati defendant to provide him with poppy seeds because he wanted to frame someone.

However, despite the Pakistani’s admission of guilt, on Wednesday Dubai Court of Appeal acquitted the Emirati police officer, though no explanation for the verdict was given. The 50-year-old will see out his jail term.