Iranian pleads innocence in substance abuse case

Manama

An Iranian national accused of substance abuse pleaded not guilty at the High Criminal Court.

The 45-year-old accused was reportedly arrested on June 6 by police patrolling in the Salmaniya area in search of drug dealers.

Police officials grew suspicious when the accused dropped the cigarette packet he was holding when he saw them. "When he noticed us approaching him, he dropped the thing he was holding and tried to move away from us. So we stopped the car and inspected the object he was holding," a police officer said.

It turned out that the cigarette contained heroine. "We immediately chased him though he tried to evade arrest," he added. According to court files, two police officers were injured during the incident. Detectives later inspected the 45-year-old's apartment and seized drugs from there.

The defendant is accused of possessing drugs and substance abuse and his case was adjourned until August 12 to assign a lawyer for him.