Dubai Does Dallas III: High at a Friend's Place or Friends in High Places?
This sure didn't take long. The Gulf News is reporting that American music producer Dallas Austin has already left the Emirate of Dubai, less 24 hours after having been first convicted of drug charges and then pardoned shortly thereafter:
Dallas Austin leaves the UAE after pardon for drug conviction:Dubai: Music producer Dallas Austin left the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday morning, less than a day after being pardoned for a drug conviction. Police sources confirmed to Gulf News that the 34-year-old - who has worked with Madonna, TLC and Michael Jackson - was transferred from Dubai Central Jail in Al Aweer to the anti-narcotic department of Dubai Police at 4am on Wednesday morning. He was then taken to Dubai airport, escorted by his American legal representatives and business manager, before boarding a morning flight bound for New York.
This means that including the time Dallas was jail awaiting trial, he spent just less than seven weeks in custody. That's a lot less than what other less wealthy people have been receiving for similar offenses:
In most other circumstances, a defendant pleading guilty to a drugs possession charge would almost certainly face prison, but sources close to the case told 7DAYS that Austin has already been granted a pardon that will be handed out after the verdict is pronounced. ... In May a judge sentenced a British man to five years in jail for possessing 2.7g of cocaine, and last week a 31-year-old Saudi was sentenced to four years for having 1.8g of the same drug.
This a nation where drinking in public can get you arrested and fined:
Ras Al Khaimah: An Indian was fined Dh3,000 ( $820) on Tuesday for drinking alcohol in public. A senior court official said that 30-year-old D.K.J. confessed to drinking alcohol. The suspect was caught with a liquor bottle in his hand. Ras Al Khaimah police received a phone call informing them of an Asian drinking alcohol publicly. The police moved to the scene and detained the violator, confiscating the bottle of whiskey he still held. The suspect confessed to the police and later to the public prosecution of his offence.
Heck, you aren't even supposed to swear, not even in defense of the environment:
Fujairah: A Briton convicted of using abusive language during a brawl had his six-month jail sentence cut to a Dh1,000 fine by the Fujairah Court of Appeal. He faced a six-month jail term after the Court of First Instance found him guilty of using abusive language. The incident took place in March at the Fujairah International Marine Club, a popular hangout for expatriates. It was sparked when a group of nationals returned from a fishing trip and were displaying their catch of a sailfish, which is on the World Wide Fund for Nature's endangered species list. The accused allegedly started making remarks to the group about what he regarded as an environmentally irresponsible fishing practice. A heated exchange ensued during which the group accused him of being abusive.
And yet, Austin gets a pardon and no fine. It is hard not to conclude that he got special treatment. It is hard not to conclude that the man who came here to get high at a friend's place has friends in high places.
Update: I'd bet this American, L.P., does real time, the kind of time Austin should have:
NOT ANOTHER ONE, SAYS JUDGE: "Not another one," exclaimed judge Mahmoud Al Sharshabi when he called on an American suspect, identified as L.P., in his mid 20s. The suspect is being tried for drug-related charges. Dubai Public Prosecution charged L.P. with possessing and consuming cocaine. The defendant confessed to the charges. The Dubai Court of First Instance adjourned till next week.
Tags: dallas austin | dubai | UAE | united arab emirates | music | Entertainment | naomi campbell | Celebrities | rap | hip hop | HipHop | R&B |
See also: Dubai Does Dallas | Dubai Does Dallas II: Independence Day |
Comments
Why is the judge so surprised--wouldn't there be cases monthly like this from interceptions at the conutry's international airports?
One explanation for the Dallas account is that old cliche in contrast to the other old cliche that justice is blind. That is, justice is arbitrary. Who knows from day-to-day, from case-to-case what the verdict will be.
Case in point. American friend of mine in Abu Dhabi shows up to work on a UAE military base drunk and he fights (argues) with the boss (an Army major). He is eventually brought to an Abu Dhabi civilian jail. Did I fail to mention that through the whole episode even up to the police station he carried in hand his book-bag containing not a single book, but 6 beer cans--3 full, 2 empty and one half-full, its contents spilling out.
I'm American too, and I know my co-worker has no wasta. Yet, in less than 24 hours he was handed his passport and told to go back home--that is to his flat in Abu Dhabi. I even had to argue to convince him to just leave the country while he still had a chance.
After leaving the country, he even managed to receive in his bank account his last pay check from the UAE military--even though he hadn't shown up for work for half the month due to the altercation.
My point: It's not always wasta, money or the other conspiratorial things we throw out. It's sometimes just dumb luck conspiring with the arbitrary nature of justice.
Posted by: BD | July 6, 2006 1:34 PM