Cell death of British prisoner 'not suspicious'

A British man who had been serving a 10-year sentence for drug trafficking was found dead in his cell.

DUBAI // Police are conducting a post-mortem examination on the body of a British prisoner who died last week in the drugs wing of Dubai Central Jail.

Peter Kane, 40, had been sentenced to 10 years in jail in July 2010 for smuggling two kilograms of cocaine from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The court had also fined him Dh50,000.

Officers at Dubai International Airport's Terminal Three had found the cocaine packets taped inside his underwear.

"We do not have any criminal suspicion on the death but we are still awaiting the results of the post-mortem," a central jail official said yesterday.

According to prison officials, Kane was found dead in his cell at 11pm on Friday. A second source at the central jail said that Kane was a diabetic who had been receiving regular treatments.

Kane was arrested at the airport in February 2010 after arriving from Sao Paulo. He had been heading to an undisclosed location in the UK.

Kane had ingested 94 capsules weighing 1.065 kilos. Another 810 grams had been taped to his underwear and groin area.

Kane denied the charges at his first appearance before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance. However, he was found guilty of possessing and smuggling drugs a week later by Judge El Saeed Mohammed Bargouth.

Kane, who was married with a young daughter, had been in constant contact with the British Embassy, which was immediately informed when his death was discovered, according to jail officials.

"We will provide the consulate in Dubai with the results of the postmortem as soon as we receive it," the official said.

A British Embassy spokeswoman yesterday said Dubai Police had assured them that an investigation had taken place.

"The post-mortem is taking place and we have informed the next of kin."

* With additional reporting by Nadeem Hanif