Pinoy faces UAE court, denies giving drugs to girlfriend

A Filipino facing the death sentence in the United Arab Emirates over allegations he tried to sell drugs insisted on his innocence when he faces a court there on Wednesday.

The Filipino had been arrested last April and charged for trying to sell methamphetamine and providing his girlfriend with the substance, UAE news site Gulf News reported Thursday.

“I did not sell drugs. I did not possess it for trading purposes, but I had it for consumption purposes,” the Gulf News report quoted him as saying before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

When presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi asked him if he provided his girlfriend with the "mind-altering substance," he said he did not.

“No, I did not. She lives with me and she consumed the same substance that I consumed. But I did not give it to her,” he said.

Drug enforcement officers arrested the Filipino, 35, outside his Satwa home last April.

Found hidden in his pockets were 4.75 grams of methamphetamine. The Filipino was also charged with consuming the drug himself.

The drug enforcement team that raided the Filipino's house also found his Filipina girlfriend under the influence of methamphetamine, the Gulf News report said.

"More banned substances were also seized in his bedroom. Upon confrontation, the defendant admitted that he and (his girlfriend) consumed methamphetamine few hours before their arrest. Meanwhile the woman claimed that (the Filipino) provided her with the substance,” an anti-narcotics police captain told prosecutors.

The Filipino reportedly told the investigating prosecutor that a Korean man provided him with the methamphetamine to sell to a man called Christian for Dh10,000.

Supposedly, the Filipino was promised Dh1,000.

Meanwhile, the girlfriend may stand trial soon before the Dubai Misdemeanors Court for taking methamphetamine.

Presiding judge Al Mahdi said the court will appoint a lawyer to defend the Filipino when it reconvenes on July 9. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

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