Pakistani gets six-month jail

The defendant worked as a salesman for E.M.D., a Lebanese national and businessman. Once in E.M.D's car, he found a briefcase, which contained some papers and a cheque book. While E. M. D. was abroad, the defendant and another man decided to try to withdraw money from E.M.D.'s account by writing a cheque and signing it in the same way the victim would. When the two went to cash the cheque on April 4 last, the bank teller noticed that, while the signature on the cheque was accurate, the handwriting slightly differed. The teller eventually called the account holder who had no idea about the cheque and asked that the two men be detained. At that time, H.B.B. managed to leave the bank, but his accomplice was questioned by bank staff. Police arrested H.B.B. later the same day from the premises of the company where he worked.

Life term awarded

DUBAI —The Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday sentenced S.R.H., a 35-year-old Pakistani national, to life in prison to be followed by deportation for trafficking and possession of narcotic substances.

The defendant tried to sell a quantity of hashish to an undercover police officer who was pretending to be a buyer for the drugs. The defendant claimed he had 400 grams of hashish and agreed to sell the drugs for Dh6, 000. At the agreed time and place, the defendant arrived and met the undercover officer. However, the defendant only had 100 grams of hashish. The undercover officer agreed to pay Dh1,500 for that quantity. Upon completion of the exchange, the defendant was arrested.