A Mississauga man is going through life in jail in Dubai for travelling with greater than 100 grams of hashish merchandise his spouse says he was utilizing to assist deal with power ache associated to Addison’s illness.
Maurice Kevin O’Rourke, 64, was arrested in July within the United Arab Emirates throughout a layover from Canada on his solution to South Africa, after airport officers in Dubai discovered 50 grams of hashish and 60 grams of CBD oil in his baggage.
The substances weren’t prescribed. However Pamela O’Rourke says her husband had no intention of breaking the legislation and is asking on officers in Dubai to have compassion for his state of affairs.
“It is a 64-year-old man who made a mistake,” she informed CBC Toronto. “To say that he will should spend the remainder of his life abroad by himself … and together with his sickness, a life sentence may very well be months or weeks.”
The household of a Mississauga man sentenced to life imprisonment in Dubai is combating to convey him dwelling. The 64-year-old was jailed after airport officers discovered hashish in his bag whereas he was on a layover to South Africa. CBC’s Tyler Cheese has extra.
O’Rourke has Addison’s illness, an autoimmune dysfunction that makes him vulnerable to infections, his spouse says.
Since he was detained, he is undergone two surgical procedures for an an infection, leaving him with an open wound, in line with his spouse. He was held in hospital for 40 days however has since been moved again to a detention centre with directions to alter his bandages twice a day.
His spouse additionally says O’Rourke has not had entry to his common treatment since being detained, leaving his household nervous about his well being.
CBC Toronto reached out to the U.A.E embassy in Ottawa for touch upon O’Rourke’s state of affairs on Friday afternoon, however hasn’t acquired a response as of noon Monday. This story might be up to date if the embassy opts to remark.
U.A.E. has a zero-tolerance coverage for a lot of medicine
Canada warns vacationers the U.A.E. has a zero-tolerance coverage towards medicine. Official journey recommendation outlines that some drugs — like codeine and psychiatric drugs — which might be accessible in Canada by prescription or over-the-counter are categorized as managed substances within the nation.
It is unlawful to convey them into the nation, even in small portions, with out prior permission from the U.A.E. Ministry of Well being.
Travellers have been arrested within the U.A.E. for having residual hashish of their our bodies from properly earlier than getting into the nation, says Radha Stirling, founding father of Detained in Dubai, a bunch that helps “overseas victims of injustice within the United Arab Emirates.”
Stirling informed CBC Toronto that travellers ought to be further cautious in consequence.
“With Canada’s liberal legal guidelines on hashish use, it is fairly doable that residents may very well be arrested for residual, legally smoked, legally consumed hashish merchandise on arrival in Dubai,” Stirling stated.
However there’s nonetheless hope for O’Rourke, she stated.
“There may be some leeway for Dubai to take a look at the problems within the case. Have a look at the human rights aspect of the case and the truth that he wants ongoing medical consideration, which he merely will not get in a Dubai jail,” Stirling stated.
In comparable circumstances, the merchandise have been confiscated on the airport and travellers are fined, deported, or typically even allowed to remain within the nation, she stated.
However she additionally desires to see extra diplomatic effort from the Canadian authorities to assist get O’Rourke dwelling.
In an announcement issued to CBC Information on Dec. 5, International Affairs Canada wrote it is, “conscious of the detention of a Canadian citizen in United Arab Emirates. Consular officers are in contact with native authorities and are offering consular help. Resulting from privateness issues, no additional data could be disclosed.”
O’Rourke to attraction life sentence on Dec. 25
Detained in Dubai beforehand labored with the Canadian authorities to assist convey Adré Gauthier dwelling in 2021.
The Quebec man was detained in Dubai for six years after blowing the whistle to authorities within the U.A.E on irregular dealings in a gold-trading firm, Gold AE. He was then arrested, charged and convicted with committing 73 counts within the fraud he uncovered.
“The Canadian authorities, after fairly a little bit of lobbying, ultimately actually stood up for him diplomatically and managed to get him dwelling to Canada,” Stirling stated, including she hopes the identical could be finished for O’Rourke.
Within the meantime, Pamela and the remainder of O’Rourke’s household are left lacking him and worrying for him, particularly as the vacations strategy.
“Our hearts are damaged as a result of he isn’t going to be dwelling for Christmas,” she stated.
A listening to to attraction the life sentence is ready for Christmas Day.
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