ABU DHABI // Two Emirati men in custody for a year on unresolved drug and alcohol charges have asked to be moved to a jail nearer to their families. "I want to see my children," one of the defendants, MT, told the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday. He and MH are accused of taking drugs and drinking alcohol. MH is also charged with drink-driving. MT admitted using hashish on a trip to Oman, but MH denied taking the drug. He said he had used MT's "midwakh" pipe, but was unaware it contained any illegal substances.
He pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge. A test found traces of alcohol in his blood. The two men complained to the judge about their incarceration. "We've been in custody for a year now," said MT. "The court was supposed to let us go in March." They asked to be moved from Al Ain to Al Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi. MT described the toll that his imprisonment was taking on his family. "I want to move to Abu Dhabi," he said. "I want to be able to see my children."
The judge told the prosecution to look into relocating the men, and said verdicts in their case would be issued on August 23. newsdesk@thenational.ae