DUBAI // Two men convicted of possessing and smoking hashish were sentenced today to four years in prison each.
AM, a 31-year-old bank manager from Egypt, and AR, 28, an accountant from Algeria, were busted for smoking hash in a Dubai hotel room on December 10, 2010.
Their lawyer, Saeed al Gilani, said there was a third man with them at the hotel, but police set him free because his test results were negative.
AM and AR denied the charges when they appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance last month.
The lawyer accused authorities of fabricating evidence and told the court the drug tests for his clients were not accurate.
Mr al Gilani told the court Dubai police accused his clients of consuming drugs, but when they tested him the result came back "light" the first time and "positive" the second.
"There isn't such a thing your honour: it's either positive or negative," Mr al Gilani said.
Both men will be deported after serving their jail terms.
salamir@thenational.ae
