UAE: DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED TO LIFE IN PRISON

October 8, 2014: The Dubai Court of Appeals has reduced the death sentence given by a lower court to a drug dealer to life in prison. The accused was convicted of trying to sell a quantity of heroin to an undercover police officer for Dh100,000.
The 30-year-old Pakistani was given the capital punishment in March by the Court of First Instance after he was found guilty of possession of drugs for trafficking. The Court of Appeals ordered his deportation after serving his time in prison. He was arrested on May 10, 2013. Anti-narcotics officers seized over 4kg of heroin from the defendant, who came to the country on a visit visa.
The Anti-narcotics officers were tipped off about the defendant’s possession of a quantity of drugs and his intention to sell it for Dh100,000. An undercover police corporal met him as a potential buyer in Naif. “He came around 5.30pm and wanted to check if I had the money. He went and came back carrying a laptop bag in which he put the drugs,” the corporal said.
The corporal paid him the money and signalled his colleagues to arrest the accused red-handed. The defendant has not appealed the verdict at the Court of Cassation. (Sources: khaleejtimes.com, 08/10/2014)