Pubdate: Mon, 16 Jul 2007
Source: Khaleej Times (UAE)
Copyright: 2007 Khaleej Times
Contact:  http://khaleejtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/996
Authors: Preeti Kannan and Sebugwaawo Ismail
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Bert+Tatham

CANADIAN LOSES APPEAL IN DRUG OFFENCE CASE

DUBAI -- The Dubai Court of Appeal in a concurring judgement 
sentenced Canadian national, Bert Tatham, yesterday to four years in 
jail followed by deportation on charges of possession and consumption 
of hashish.  Thirty-five-year-old Tatham was an international adviser 
with the Poppy Elimination Programme in Kandahar in Afghanistan until recently.

The appellate court's judgement upheld the earlier verdict of the 
Dubai Court of First Instance. Tatham's local lawyer, Saeed Al 
Gailani, told Khaleej Times: "We will now appeal to the apex court 
here after I have procured a written copy of the latest judgement. I 
expect to get that this week."

Customs officials at Dubai International Airport, it may be recalled, 
had arrested the Canadian recently on April 23. He was transiting 
through Dubai while on his way to Vancouver from Kabul.

Customs inspectors found 0.06 grams of hashish, a contraband drug, in 
Tatham's pocket and two dried poppy flowers in a carpet in his 
baggage. He was then referred to the Public Prosecution on charges of 
possessing and consuming hashish. The subsequent forensic laboratory 
tests confirmed traces of drug ingestion in his urine sample.

During the court trial, Al Gailani had pointed out that his client 
was an anti-narcotics officer and that handling such drugs was a 
regular and routine part of his job. Tatham, he added, also attended 
and supervised the burning of tons of poppy crops almost daily.

A bit dissapointed, Charlie Tatham, father of Bert Tatham speaking to 
Khaleej Times from Canada yesterday said, "the family would discuss 
the Federal Supreme Court appeal with my son's lawyer before taking a 
final decision . I would also like to visit Dubai at an appropriate 
time to meet my son." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake