Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The Dubai Court of Appeal has reduced the fine and cancelled a deportation order against a Ukrainian woman found guilty of using illegal drugs. The court has reduced the fine from Dh10,000 to Dh3,000 on humanitarian grounds. The woman, who is on visit visa in the UAE, will also not be deported. Her case dates back to November last year when Dubai Police teams received a tipoff about the Ukrainian visitor using illegal drugs in the emirate. When police searched her home and her vehicle, they did not find any drugs but when she underwent a drug test, she tested positive for cocaine. At the Dubai Court of First Instance, she was found guilty of consuming illegal drugs, but she later won her appeal for a reduced sentence “due to war conditions in Ukraine”. In January this year, the UAE implemented an amended anti-narcotics law where deportation for drug users is no longer mandatory, and the judge can decide on whether or not a convict in drug cases can be allowed to stay in the UAE. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page