ABU DHABI // A man denied using marijuana yesterday, saying he was a recovering cancer patient who did not smoke.
The Briton LW appeared before the appeals court, where prosecutors were contending a not-guilty verdict for consuming or carrying illegal drugs in the UAE that was issued at the court of first instance.
The man was in Sri Lanka for 14 weeks before flying to the Emirates on his way to the UK, and said he may have taken medication while there. He said he was a recovering cancer patient and did not smoke for medical reasons.
He was arrested at a UAE airport on April 3 after Tramadol tablets were found in his bag. He had planned to stay in the country for three days before heading back to the UK for medical treatment.
He said the Tramadol had been prescribed in the UK but police arrested him, saying he had no proof.
The Briton spent two-and-a-half weeks in prison awaiting trial, during which time he secured the prescription for Tramadol from the UK, which led to an acquittal at the court of first instance.
"I went to Baniyas to pick up my passport, then they told me there was another case against me," said the man. "I was not allowed to take my passport then."
He said he was shocked when he heard the word "hashish", and it was the first time he had heard this accusation.
"I did not take marijuana, I am a recovering cancer patient," he told the judge. "I do not smoke, I only came here on transit."
The judge wanted to adjourn the case until September, but the Briton objected, saying he was ill and that he had "no money and no medication".
He said he had missed several medical appointments in the UK during his three months in the UAE awaiting a decision.
LW said the British Embassy was unable to help and was only concerned about his welfare while in prison. The case was adjourned until July 18.
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The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
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On Women's Day
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
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The specs
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
While you're here
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
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Wicked
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
If you go
The specs
EA Sports FC 25
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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More from Alistair Burt
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Results:
Men’s wheelchair 200m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 27.14; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 27.81; 3. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 27.81.