Dubai Does Dallas II: Independence Day
In Dubai Does Dallas I noted that Grammy-award winning American music producer Dallas Austin was facing trial in Dubai for bringing a few "grammies" of party favors with him when he came here for Naomi Campbell's birthday bash in mid-May. This was, I suggested, a terrible oversight because " US visitors to the UAE are duly forwarned by our government that the UAE government is one of laws, laws taken very seriously."
Well today, the fourth of July, Dallas Austin was sentenced and received four years:
Renowned music producer Dallas Austin has been sentenced to four years in jail for possessing cocaine and an MDM drug. Austin's lawyer Mohammad Al Redha told Gulf News he would be seeking an appeal on behalf of his client as soon as he receives the verdict sheet. Austin was travelling to Dubai to attend the birthday party of supermodel Naomi Campbell when he was arrested last month. The 34-year-old American, who has worked with a string of big names in the music business, among them Madonna and Anastacia, will be deported after serving his sentence.
Four years, wow. That's long time for such a small amount drugs. I started to actually feel sorry for Dallas because as I wrote in my last post, this would mean the end of both his established recording and budding film careers. But then, I recalled that there were other articles about the Austin case, ones that laid out the case for why a pardon was not only possible, but likely:
A cross-section of lawyers has said that a special pardon is a ruling based on humanitarian considerations and is not limited to celebrities. The issue of special pardons surfaced when lawyers of American hip-hop producer Dallas Austin approached the Ruler's Court for a pardon. "In Dallas's case we refer to him as 'a patient' and not as 'a criminal' especially that it's a case of possessing drugs for personal use and not for peddling. His act is considered as a crime against himself. If he had been involved in peddling drugs he will not be granted a pardon since such crimes affect the society," said Al Salman (who served as a judge for eight years).
Justice Al Salman obviously learned a few things during his time on the bench because no sooner did I go back to the Gulf News story about Austin, then I found a new article saying (drumroll please) that Austin had received a pardon:
Music producer Dallas Austin pardoned from drug charges
Music producer Dallas Austin has been pardoned following his conviction for possessing drugs, judicial sources told Gulf News. Austin was carrying 1.26 grammes of cocaine and five-and-a-half capsules of cocaine and an MDM drug when he was detained. According to the arraignment sheet, Dubai Public Prosecution charged the suspect with possessing and bringing in illegal substances for personal use. Austin's pardon came just hours after he was sentenced to four years in jail to be followed by deportation on Monday.
I hope there is not a stereotype developing here about Black-American male celebrities and the law. First Michael Jackson comes here after beating child molestation charges and is discovered dressing like a woman and hanging out in ladies bathroom in a mall. Then, Dallas Austin arrives and is found to be bringing drugs into the country, albeit only enough for personal use. Somehow I don't think the next will be so lucky. OJ, if you're reading this, don't come here. Same goes for Dallas' fellow Atlantans Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, and Lil Jon.
Tags: dallas austin | dubai | UAE | united arab emirates | music | Entertainment | naomi campbell | Celebrities | rap | hip hop | HipHop | R&B | andrew young I