Life sentence for man who tried to sell 732kg of heroin in Abu Dhabi

The man was originally sentenced to death by the Criminal Court in Abu Dhabi, but the Appeals Court had commuted this to life in prison before the case was forwarded to the Cassation Court for a final ruling.

ABU DHABI // A man who tried to sell 732kg of heroin should serve a life sentence, the Cassation Court ruled yesterday.

The man was originally sentenced to death by the Criminal Court, but the Appeals Court had commuted this to life in prison before the case was forwarded to the Cassation Court for a final ruling.

The man, an Asian, was arrested by an undercover officer posing as a customer. During interrogations he told them a friend from his home county had told him there was a stash of heroin hidden under a tree near his workplace in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi.

He dug it up to make sure his compatriot was telling the truth before burying it again. His friend called him again and told him to sell the drugs for Dh37,000.

However, in court the man said he had taken a delivery from his friend, but did not know what it was. He says that when he met the undercover agent he at first refused to take payment. He said the agent insisted and place the money in his pocket before arresting him.

The Appeals Court previously rejected an argument from the man's lawyer that the police investigation had "not been serious enough".