Hungarian student ‘unwittingly smoked hashish’, Dubai court told

DUBAI // A Hungarian student accused of consuming hashish only took the drug by mistake, his lawyer claimed at the Criminal Court on Thursday.

Saeed Al Ghilani said the defendant, S A, 22, was at “a big party and many many young men and women were there drinking and consuming” drugs.

S A was offered a cigarette by a female friend and “he took it and smoked it not knowing it contained hashish”, the lawyer said.

Mr Al Ghilani added that his client had never even smoked tobacco before this party.

SA was arrested on January 7 this year in Jebel Ali after the female friend tipped off police.

“This woman, who offered him the cigarette, was arrested and she was questioned by anti-narcotics officers who asked her to give them the names of everyone who consumed hashish with her,” said the lawyer. “She gave them many names, including his.”

He asked for his client to be acquitted because he did not have the criminal intent to consume drugs.

A verdict is expected on March 7.