DUBAI // A public relations executive who stopped at a petrol station en route to Abu Dhabi to smoke cannabis has been sentenced to 15 years in jail.
The Abu Dhabi resident, SF, 28, from Sudan, was convicted yesterday at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance of possession with intent to sell 24 grams of marijuana.
Prosecution records show that on April 18, SF was seen at Jebel Ali Eppco petrol station smoking a marijuana cigarette. An informant contacted police, and anti-drugs officers immediately raided the station and arrested SF.
An anti drugs lieutenant told prosecutors that when the defendant was arrested he was asked if he had any marijuana in his possession, and he pulled out bag containing two plastic wraps.
"He reached into the glove compartment of his car and pulled out a wallet with the drugs," said the officer. "He told us he regularly consumed marijuana and also gave it or sold it to his friends."
According to SF's statement to police, he would often purchase the drug from another defendant, who is being tried separately, and sold it to five other people, who are also being prosecuted separately.
In court, SF denied the charges and claimed he intended to give the drugs to someone for free.