Dubai, June 4 (IANS): An Indian national in Qatar has been sentenced to 40 lashes and his driving licence ordered to be suspended for two months by a Qatari Criminal Court for consuming liquor and driving under its influence, media reported.
The unnamed Indian was caught by a police patrol while he was parking his vehicle in Shabiyat Khalifa area near Qatar's capital Doha, Gulf Times reported Tuesday citing local Arabic daily Arrayah.
Police found him to be under the influence of alcohol and also found a half-empty bottle of liquor in the car, the report said.
The prosecution said the accused had consumed liquor and also confessed during interrogation that he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
The accused, however, later denied that he had driven the vehicle while being drunk, the report added.
The claim was rejected by the court.