Retired Egyptian colonel denies drug possession charge

ABU DHABI // A retired colonel found with hashish in his luggage during a customs inspection has claimed he was framed, either due to political motives or his grudge-driven maid.

AM, an Egyptian, worked as a captain on an Adma vessel when a customs officer found a pair of trousers and a shirt containing hashish and psychotropic pills in his bag.

AM told the Appeals Court he comes from a prestigious background and family and there is no way he would have any connection to the drugs.

“I am a colonel, and my father was a sheikh from Al Azhar, and my sister is a doctor. I retired as a colonel (from Egypt) and then [the UAE] honoured me with this job, why would I commit such a things,” he argued.

“There is no way I would possess, deal or see such substances.”

Chief justice Idris Bin Mansour asked why would anyone want to frame him.

“You know the situation in Egypt today, and how colonels and officials are being targeted,” he replied.

The chief justice said this was irrelevant.

“It could be the maid angered by a fight with the wife, or perhaps the neighbours or anyone I don’t know.”

His defence lawyer said she wanted to summon the customs officer.

“What will we bring the officer for? What will we say to him?” argued chief justice Bin Mansour.

“You already said he did find the substances in the defendant’s luggage. You will ask him if there has been a prior fight?”

The lawyer insisted on her request and that she needs to question him.

She postponed her defence until the officer as present.

The case was adjourned until June 2.