GulfNews, United Arab Emirates
June 29 2008

Dubai court sentences ‘abusive’ jail wardens

By Bassam Za’za’, Senior Reporter
Published: June 29, 2008, 11:12

Dubai: Seven of the 25 jail wardens, including a former prison
director, who were charged with abusing authority and beating inmates
during a surprise inspection for substances prohibited in the cells,
have been sentenced to six months in jail.

The rest of the jail wardens have been sentenced to three months in
prison.

The Public Prosecution has charged the wardens with abusing their
authority. They allegedly beat an Armenian inmate, leaving him with a
permanent 10 per cent spinal disability, besides injuring others.

Seven lawyers defended the wardens, stating that they were searching
for banned substances, such as drugs and sharp tools in the cells and
they relied on the surprise factor and scared the prisoners while
taking them out of their cells "to prevent them from disposing of any
forbidden stuff".