DUBAI, 5 July 2006 — Grammy winning American hip-hop music producer Dallas Austin has been pardoned following his conviction for possessing drugs, sources said last night.
Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum, prime minister and vice president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, pardoned Austin hours after he was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of cocaine.
Austin’s release could take a few days, one of his attorney’s said.
“Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum issued the pardon but Austin has not yet been released from jail”, AP quoted Austin’s lawyers as saying. Another lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Austin’s release was “a matter of paperwork.” The lawyer said he needed to be careful speaking publicly about the pardon until Austin was safe on a plane back to his home in Atlanta.
The Atlanta-based producer was arrested at Dubai International Airport on May 19 as he arrived in Dubai to attend a three-day birthday bash for British supermodel Naomi Campbell which was held at the glitzy Burj Al-Arab
Yesterday morning, Dubai Criminal Court had sentenced Austin to four years imprisonment followed by deportation, after he admitted to possessing cocaine. But since then there was much speculation that Austin might be pardoned and sent back home.
“There are many cases in which the ruler grants a pardon without a request,” said Mohammad Abdullah Al-Redha, a UAE member of Austin’s defense team.
Austin’s multi-national legal team also includes Qays Hatem Al Zu’bi of Bahrain, Joel A. Katz of the Atlanta law firm Greenberg Traurig and Joe Reeder, another American lawyer.
Austin, who is internationally known for his huge success with Madonna and Michael Jackson over his 17-year career, had pleaded guilty in court on Sunday to possessing 1.26 grams of cocaine and five-and-a-half capsules of cocaine and an MDM drug.
Austin, dressed in a red-T shirt and baggy blue jeans, was brought briefly into a packed courtroom, through a side door, to hear the sentence, which took judge Mahmud Mohammad Al-Sharshabi less than a minute to read. Austin looked composed and stood briefly in the dock to hear the verdict, after which he was led back.
During interrogation, Austin said that he bought the drugs in the US for his personal use and forgot to remove them from his bag. The confiscated drugs were sent to the forensic laboratory and a urine test was also conducted.
In addition to American artists, Austin has produced songs for overseas artists. In 1999 Austin and Japanese pop singer Amuro Namie began a professional relationship which revitalized her career. Austin also formed Rowdy Records in 1992 and was the executive producer of the film Drumline (2002) for 20th Century Fox. He also served as the film’s musical director. Austin is currently working with Warner Bros. studios on another music-driven film, and he also contributed to the re-release of Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi.
