In a press release to his attorneys, Hood said: "I've normally had a zero-tolerance on any medication or illegal substances. For me to generally be accused of advertising and marketing medicine in a country that has the same beliefs and values as me is very upsetting mainly because it affects my long run."
Changes for the UAE's drug legislation will limit legal motion from people uncovered to get carrying solutions which consist of cannabis extracts.
"There was no evidence in anyway of trafficking and none of advertising. Dubai's overzealous prosecution has ruined this younger male's everyday living and put him and his spouse and children by way of hell.
Other sizeable improvements to UAE’s anti-narcotics legislation include things like chopping bare minimum jail terms and establishing expert detention centres in its place to prison.
“I assume these centres will, very before long – inside of this calendar year – be All set, Primarily as being the nation now has extensive encounter During this situation,” Mr Galadari explained.
He suggests he was refused a translator and informed he would not be released from his mobile, exactly where he was held with 30 other Guys and offered only bread and h2o, Until he signed the document.
A felony circumstance might have adopted along with a conviction meant a prison sentence of approximately ten years and deportation for expatriates.
Hood, a former semi-Professional participant from west London, labored as a football mentor from the UAE before his arrest in January. It can be a rustic infamous for its ultra zero-tolerance stance on drug-associated offences.
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“For instance, I ought to see whether the defendant is really a resident, a visitor, a first timer, or if the person includes a criminal file, and other details that might help me choose exactly what is finest for the individual, his family members and also the community.”
"Billy was forced to confess to federal crimes with promises of his imminent launch. He was specified the two a carrot and also a adhere, so some prosecutor could get his dues. It can be all much too familiar a story."
Radha Stirling, chief govt of Detained in Dubai, mentioned: "The UAE has just claimed they are going to eliminate jail sentences for foreigners located to generally be in possession of THC solutions, deciding on deportation as a substitute but this regulation isn't going to occur into result until finally January 2022 and should not implement retroactively."
Sentences for drug trafficking can include things like the Demise penalty check here and possession of even the smallest amount of illegal medicine may lead to a least four-12 months jail sentence.
Billy Hood, twenty five, from Kensington, London, was Operating as a soccer coach from the UAE when police learned four compact bottles in the CBD oil derived from cannabis, and a vape pen, in his vehicle and arrested him on 31 January.