DUBAI // Two detainees at Al Rashidiya detention centre broke into its clinic and stole medicine, touching off a prison riot, prosecutors said this morning.
Prosecutors said AM, 25, and AA, 22, both Emiratis, with damaged public property, stole drugs worth
Dh975
and assaulted and resisted police officers.
Both had been detained on drug-consumption charges.
On May 29, 2010, AM requested to go to the bathroom, and while there, he unlocked his cuffs, records show.
He then pushed past a police officer, broke down clinic’s door and started swallowing different tablets, prosecutors say. At that point, the charges said, AA got out of his cell and also rushed into the clinic.
Prosecutors said they assaulted the police officers trying to control them and prevent them from swallowing the tablets.
And during the confusion, all the detainees in that area managed to get out and fought with police officers.
Riot police were called in and controlled the detainees, said records.
Records show that both suspects were lying on the floor unconscious from swallowing too much
Rivotril, Valium, Xanax and other types of anti-depressants and sleeping pills.
The next hearing was scheduled for March 20 to summon the suspects.
salamir@thenational.ae
