Three Britons jailed in Dubai for drug offences

Three British men have been sentenced to four years in prison in Dubai on Monday for possessing synthetic cannabis.

Two of the accused were initially charged with possessing the drug with intent to supply, but according to the verdict those charges sheet were dropped by the court which instead sentenced them only a charge of consuming drugs. The sentence remains subject to appeal within 15 days, UAE daily The National reported.
 
Grant Cameron, Karl Williams and Suneet Jeerh have been held in the UAE since taking a holiday in July 2012. Police said they had found a form of synthetic cannabis in their hire car.

Prosecutors told the court the men were arrested following a tip-off to Dubai Police's Anti-Narcotics department. The informant told police two of them had 1,060 grams of Spice and intended to sell it.

All three pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of illegal drugs and said police had subjected them to beatings and threatened them with guns, allegations the police deny.

The court also ordered the deportation of the three men after completing their sentence, the report said.

There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences in the UAE. There are severe penalties for drug trafficking and possession.

In a letter to Reprieve, a London-based legal charity which campaigns for prisoner rights, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain had repeatedly raised concerns about the torture allegations with the UAE, saying the authorities' failure to organise a full medical examination of the men was worrisome.

"We continue to press for evidence of a full, impartial and independent investigation," Cameron wrote.

(With inputs from Reuters)