MOHAMMED PARDONS 500 DRUG CONVICTS

GENERAL Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai
and UAE Defence Minister, has pardoned 500 people - 200 nationals and
300 expatriates - convicted of drug abuse in the emirate. This was
announced yesterday by Dubai Attorney-General Ibrahim Bu Melha during
his visit to the Drugs Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Al Awir.
Mr Bu Melha said Gen. Shaikh Mohammed decided to pardon the expatriate
convicts so that their deportation formalities could be started. The
pardoned national convicts would be referred to the Training and
Rehabilitation Centre, he added.

Talking to reporters, Mr Bu Melha said necessary steps were being
taken to accommodate at the centre those requiring treatment and
provide follow-up treatment to others at their homes. He said the
Public Prosecution in Dubai was considering referring drug abuse cases
to the centre, instead of courts, for treatment and rehabilitation.
There was, however, no obstacle in referring such accused by the court
to the training and rehabilitation centre, he added.

Mr Bu Melha said the drug problem still existed, but it was under
control and efforts were being made to check it further. He said the
idea of treating drug abusers instead of taking legal action against
them was a progressive step, adding that those who underwent treatment
would be rehabilitated and become constructive members of society.

Mr Bu Melha said although legal procedures had been tried, it was
necessary to put forward a new idea because, despite the fact that the
drugs problem was under control, it had spread to many areas and was
increasing. He said it was impossible to trust some private clinics as
some persons after their arrest obtained medical certificates from
such clinics attesting that they were undergoing treatment at a clinic
when they actually were not.

He said that there is a legal link between the centre and the
prosecution through the persons who are arrested, to find a mechanism
to benefit from the facilities of the centre and refer them for
treatment. Mr Bu Melha said that following a similar visit by
officials from the centre and after meetings with Dubai Police, he saw
that such a visit was necessary.

"We are currently in the process of studying referring UAE nationals
arrested on drug abuse or drug possession charges to the centre,
provided their condition warrants it. Before it is decided we will
have meetings with officials at the centre to activate the role of the
centre and the services it offers to those addicted to drugs," Mr Bu
Melha said.

He said that there is no objection to the services offered by this
centre or the building or location but that there are some issues that
need to be discussed and need adjustment in a way that meets the
requirements of rehabilitating drug addicts.

Mr Bu Melha expressed his belief that by referring addicts to the
centre there will be a dramatic increase in numbers in a way that will
require the centre to be ready and fully equipped to give the required
service and follow up to patients.

He said that a number of suggestions have been received by the
prosecution from doctors, social workers and staff at the centre, in
addition to recommendations from some similar centres and clinics in
other countries. He said that all these suggestions must be studied.

Mr Bu Melha said he believes that the capabilities of the centre are
greater than the number of those undergoing treatment there.

"It was set up for large numbers of patients, whereas the number of
those seeking treatment at the centre is only 14. Why this small
number, there have to be reasons for this and we have to study these
reasons because this centre offers an important service," Mr Bu Melha
said, adding that drug addiction, for which legal and judicial
procedures are largely ineffective, has to be treated.

The attorney-general toured the Training and Rehabilitation Centre
yesterday accompanied by Brigadier Juma Al Sayegh, Director General of
the Moral Guidance Department and Head of the Training and
Rehabilitation Centre at Dubai Police and Colonel Khalid Al Ali,
Director of the Training and Rehabilitation Centre, who explained to
the attorney general the steps taken to treat drug addicts at the centre.

Mr Bu Melha met with patients at the centre and listened to their
remarks on the training process. Many showed great readiness to accept
treatment in order to become more constructive members of society,
into which they would finally be reintroduced.