An Indian visitor avoided deportation and a Dh1-million fine after successfully arguing in court that the 260 pregabalin capsules he was accused of smuggling were actually medications for his ailing parents. Initially convicted of smuggling and possessing psychotropic substances, the Dubai Appeal Court reconsidered his case and imposed a more lenient penalty. The court ordered the defendant to pay a Dh5,000 fine instead of the Dh1 million demanded by prosecutors, and no deportation order was issued.
The visitor's lawyer, Hani Hammouda Hagag, presented evidence to the appellate court, stating that his client had no criminal intent and had brought the pills for his parents, who have been living in the UAE since the 1970s. Hagag emphasized that the capsules were for the treatment of his parents, who are registered patients under Dubai's health authorities and have prescriptions for these medications.
The lawyer also provided medical records and prescriptions to support his claims. Hagag noted that when his client presented the prescriptions and written permission to bring the pills, the customs officer did not thoroughly check the documents. The defendant was apprehended at Dubai airport in June when he arrived, and the 260 pills were confiscated.
Prosecutors initially charged the defendant with smuggling and illegally possessing nearly 70g of mind-altering substances. The Dubai Misdemeanours Court found the accused guilty and fined him Dh5,000, citing leniency. The defendant appealed the initial judgment, seeking to clear his name, while prosecutors appealed for a harsher penalty, demanding a Dh1 million fine.
Hagag reiterated that the defendant had no criminal intent and submitted all relevant medical reports, prescriptions, and written proof to support his case. The appeal court dismissed the prosecutors’ appeal and upheld the Dh5,000 fine without adding a deportation order. Khaleej Times can confirm that the defendant has since returned to India.
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