ABU DHABI, Jul 28 (The National): A driver was sentenced to 80 lashes and fined Dh26,000 yesterday for seven alcohol and traffic offences.

KHS was convicted at the Criminal Court of First Instance of driving under the influence of alcohol, consumption of alcohol, possession of alcohol, violation of public decency, sudden swerving, not abiding by traffic rules and damaging another vehicle.

The court sentenced him to lashes for the alcohol-related charges and fined him for the others.

At a first hearing on Sunday prosecutors said the man was driving on May 25 in Abu Dhabi when he suddenly swerved into a woman’s car, damaging it. Police took him to the police station for a urine test because they suspected he was inebriated.

KHS’s lawyer, Faiza Moussa, argued that the urine sample had been obtained through “inappropriate” procedures and without clearance from the Public Prosecution.

Sentencing KHS, Chief Justice Saeed Abdul Baseer advised him to appeal against the verdict.