Dubai jails Grooverider on drugs charge

By Lin Noueihed

DUBAI (Reuters) - A Dubai court sentenced DJ Raymond Bingham, better known as Grooverider, to four years in jail on Tuesday, three months after he was caught in possession of marijuana.

The 40-year-old disc jockey was arrested at Dubai airport on November 23 when customs officials found a transparent bag containing 2.16 grams of marijuana in his luggage.

Grooverider, who co-hosts a weekly "drum and bass" music show on BBC Radio 1 with fellow DJ Fabio, was not in court for sentencing. He remains in custody and has two weeks to appeal.

Dubai, one of the seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates federation, has a zero tolerance drug policy.

Under UAE law, drug trafficking carries a sentence ranging from four years jail to death, though executions are rare. Foreigners convicted of bringing drugs into the Gulf trade and tourism hub normally face jail terms followed by deportation.

Bingham began his career on pirate radio and was key to the development of "drum and bass" dance music in the 1990s.

The Briton, who flew to Dubai to play a set at a top nightclub, had previously said he was not aware the drug was in his luggage and had no intention of smuggling into Dubai.

"This is the minimum that you get by law but we will do our best, especially since he confessed and has cooperated with the authorities," defence lawyer Mohammed Suweidi told Reuters.