A man was arrested after a friend he had not seen in 16 years turned out to be a drug dealer, a court has heard.

The Emirati, in his late thirties, and his Saudi Arabian college friend, 37, caught up at a hotel in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

He agreed to drive his friend on an errand to the Bani Yas area.

But this turned out to be a hashish deal worth Dhs250,000 – and the buyer was an undercover police officer.

Details of the crime were heard at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court this week.

The Saudi was convicted and sentenced to death, while his friend was jailed for 15 years.

The Saudi admitted to trafficking and dealing drugs, but said the Emirati friend had no knowledge of the deal.

The friend also denied any involvement, but prosecutors said he was waiting in a car nearby and he was implicated in the crime.

The court heard Abu Dhabi Police had received information that the Saudi was a hashish dealer and officers arranged the meeting at a bus stop with an undercover officer posing as a buyer.

In court, the Emirati denied being involved in the deal.

He claimed: “I had just met my friend at the hotel, it had been a long time since we had seen each other.

“He asked me to take him to Bani Yas to meet someone there. I didn’t have any idea the man possessed or dealt drugs.”

The men are entitled to appeal within 15 days, although an appeal in a death sentence case is automatic.

Author: Ismail Sebugwaawo

Source: 7days.ae