Workers lose appeal over bootlegging

abu dhabi — Two workers who were convicted for illegal sale of alcohol and drinking liquor in a public place have had the appeal against their six-month-jail sentences rejected by the UAE’s top court.

The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi has upheld earlier rulings by lower courts that found the Asian men guilty of consuming liquor and unlawful sale of alcohol.

Official court documents stated that the men were arrested after investigations suggested that they were illegally selling liquor to workers near their accommodations in one of the Northern Emirates.

Prosecutors said the defendants were buying the alcohol from certain suppliers and selling them to Asian workers without licences. The police also found out that the men were also consuming liquor.

During police interrogation, the men admitted to possessing the liquor for own consumption. Prosecutors had charged the men with illegal sale and possession of alcohol and consuming liquor. The Criminal Court of First Instance had sentenced the pair to two years in jail and ordered for their deportation after serving their jail sentences.

They went to the appeal court which reduced the jail sentences to six months. The men challenged the ruling at the UAE’s top court claiming that they were wrongly convicted. They told the judge that they didn’t get a fair hearing because all court sessions were in Arabic language and that there were no assigned translators.

The Supreme Court judge, however, rejected their claims and maintained the Appeal Court sentences.