DUBAI// A police officer who came to the rescue of a group of men whose car got stuck in sand ended up arresting them for taking drugs.
Dubai Criminal Court heard that Emirati H A, 20, was with two friends on the night of November 3 last year when their SUV ran into trouble.
“I was in Deira when I saw a Toyota stuck in the sand and three men trying to dig into the sand and get it out,” said Yemeni policeman A Z, 23.
“I went to them and started helping, then noticed they were not normal. I asked them what they were doing in a deserted area at that time of the night but they did not answer and started saying that all they wanted was to get the car out of the sand.”
After calling for back up, A Z told the court that his fellow officers found drugs while searching through the vehicle.
All three defendants were tested for drugs, with a laboratory report confirming that H A had consumed hashish and other illegal substances.
His co-defendants were found to be under the influence of mind-altering substances and were referred to Dubai Court of Misdemeanours.
The next hearing for H A is on April 8.
salamir@thenational.ae