Emirati addict asks court for cure

In an unprecedented request, an Emirati accused of taking hashish asked the Dubai Criminal Court to offer him a cure instead of jailing him.

IAA, 40, told the jury panel presided by Judge Al Saeed Barghouth that he had been “involved in this field” - meaning taking drugs and hashish - “for the past 20 years and been convicted in six cases over this period”.

“Every time I am released I revert back to taking hashish and drugs. I desperately need to be cured of this illness. I have a family and children and want to support them,” he told the jury.

IAA confessed before the court that he used hashish and the case was adjourned for verdict until August 17.