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OFW arrested over grape seeds gets 10 years


MANILA, Philippines - The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was arrested for carrying grape seeds – which Dubai authorities insist were marijuana seeds – has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug possession. On March 6, the 34-year-old George Fernandez Regino and his wife Raquel were held by authorities at the Dubai airport for what was supposed to be a standard inspection. But when grape seeds were found on his luggage, he said the airport police immediately assumed they were marijuana seeds – citing George’s red eyes as the primary basis. [See: OFW jailed in Dubai over grape seeds and red eyes] Based on this, the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance on May 14 sentenced George to 10 years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dirhams or almost P650,000 for drug possession. Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) case officer Anna Navarro told GMANews.TV that the OFW’s family still has until May 29 to appeal the sentence. But Navarro said Regina currently does not have a lawyer, prompting the CMA to ask help from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine posts onsite. The DFA, on the other hand, has yet to reply to the requests for help from CMA. - GMANews.TV
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