'Led Zeppelin' remains jailed in Dubai

DUBAI // A Filipino rock musician remains detained, awaiting the results of a laboratory test in relation to an alleged drug offence. Led Zeppelin Tuyay, 28, a guitarist for the band Kamikazee, spent the Christmas and New Year holidays in a detention centre at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 2. On Dec 25, a Philippine consulate staff member and the band's representative met the senior prosecutor handling Tuyay's case, according to a public prosecution source. "They were told that public prosecution had not yet received the results of the urine tests and that of the confiscated drugs. It usually takes time, but it is only to ensure the results are accurate," the source said.

The source, who declined to be named, said the prosecutor might write a recommendation to "archive" or quash the case, but that would depend on the lab test results. The prosecutor's decision will be based on the amount and type of drug that was seized by airport authorities, the source said. The concert organisers, ABS-CBN TV network, had said Tuyay was allegedly caught with suspected "residues of marijuana" inside his luggage. Initial investigations by Dubai authorities showed that Tuyay possessed 0.87 grams of marijuana, but he said he did not intend to bring or use it in Dubai.

Tuyay was detained on Dec 4, a day before his band was due to perform at a concert in Dubai. He was charged the next day with bringing in and possessing narcotics. His father, Edwin Tuyay, 51, said his son phoned him at 6am yesterday. "He felt sad that the band's representative went home. I told him not to worry because we have friends in Dubai whom he could get in touch with." The representative for Kamikazee, who stayed behind after the Dec 5 rock concert, left for Manila yesterday.

rruiz@thenational.ae