Man accused of importing military material illegally

ABU DHABI // A man who illegally imported military equipment did not intend to harm the country, his lawyer said in the Federal Supreme Court on Monday.

M K S, 46, an Arab, was accused of importing electronic devices used in the military without abiding by the UAE’s rules, and of using forged documents to claim that two government entities required the items.

Last week, the defendant confessed to the forgery, saying he was “only experimenting” and did not need to use them. He denied the other allegations.

During his defence argument his lawyer, Yousef Al Ali, said the defendant did not forge the documents.

Mr Al Ali said another unknown person had created them for him.

“The defendant also had no need for them. Drawings and graphics found on his laptop doesn’t mean anything in this case,” he said.

Mr Al Ali said the first shipment of the equipment never reached the defendant’s hometown, which was the intended destination, while the second passed through several customs areas and was never questioned.

His nationality cannot be disclosed as per orders of the judge, to protect M K S and his family.

“He imported the equipment as a dual-use device and they are not necessarily used for military purposes. During the second shipment from China, the equipment passed through six different customs areas and if there was an issue they would not have been sent through,” Mr Al Ali said.

He requested his client’s acquittal, saying his actions did not harm the country in any way.

M K S requested mercy from the court, and asked not to be deported if he was convicted.

The verdict will be announced on May 25.