A senior UAE police officer denied Monday claims by two British defendants on trial for drug related crimes that they had been beaten while in police custody. Major Ahmed Isa of the anti-narcotics division told the Sharia Court that all the defendants made their statements to police willingly and without duress, according to Gulf News.
In his statement to the Public Prosecutor, one defendant was quoted as complaining that he was beaten while in police custody. A second defendant also claimed that he was beaten by police before being handed over to the Public Prosecutor.
In another development the senior judge hearing the case ordered local media not to publish the full names of the eight defendants on trial, said the paper. He said any local journalist who named the defendants in stories would be held in contempt of court. He gave no reason for the ban. Maj Isa told the court that the defendants - five Britons, two Lebanese and an Australian - all contributed to each other's arrest last November. The eight have been charged with several drug-related offences ranging from trafficking, dealing, possession and drug use – Albawaba.com
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