Monday, July 03, 2006

Dallas Austin To Seek Pardon From Dubai's Ruler

Multi-platinum producer Dallas Austin pleaded guilty to charges of possessing 1.26 grams of cocaine yesterday (June 1) into Dubai and will face sentencing in a United Arab Emirates court tomorrow (July 3).
Austin, who appeared briefly in court in jeans and a white dress shirt, was accompanied by four attorneys, one of the UAE, one from Bahrain and two from the United States.
According to reports, Austin's legal team will seek a pardon from Dubai's ruler, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Austin, who is facing up to four years in prison, was arrested May 19 at Dubai's airport while enroute to a birthday bash for supermodel Naomi Campbell.
He told the judge that he unintentionally broke the law by bringing cocaine into the country, which has a strict policy against illegal drugs.
Pardons have been issued in similar cases. Austin is expected to retain a criminal record and eventually be released from prison and deported.