Low-hanging trousers led to drugs arrest, Dubai court hears

DUBAI // A man’s refusal to pull up his low-hanging trousers ended with him being arrested for possessing drugs.

The Criminal Court heard that on July 20 this year, M A, 23, an Indian, was walking through a Metro station in Naif when his sagging trousers attracted the attention of a police officer.

“Several people were looking at him, as his trousers were so low that his underwear was showing,” said police officer S A. “It was not a decent scene during the holy month of Ramadan.”

The officer stopped M A, requested to see identification. The defendant showed him a copy of his passport and visit visa. S A then told M A to go to a nearby bathroom and pull his trousers up. A few minutes later, the officer saw M A again with his trousers still hanging low.

“I stopped him again and asked for his Emirates ID, he said he didn’t have one and opened his wallet to pick up the passport copy, then a folded piece of paper fell to the ground,” said S A.

“As it unfolded, his eyes widened and I saw a herbal substance, which turned out to be marijuana.”

Prosecutors said that during interrogation, M A admitted possessing the marijuana, telling police he used because “it made him feel calm and took away the burdens of his problems.”

In court on Sunday he denied possessing 0.14 grams of marijuana for personal use. The next hearing will be on October 27.

salamir@thenational.ae