Appeal Court applies new drug law, reduces sentence in landmark case

The Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, presided over by Counselor Nasr Salem Al-Haid and joined by Counselors Mutaib Al-Aradhi and Saud Al-Sanea, issued a landmark ruling applying the new drug law to an accused, reducing his prison sentence from five years to one year.

The case involved the accused charged by the Public Prosecution with possessing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for personal use, as well as resisting and assaulting security personnel during the performance of their duties, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The Criminal Court had previously acquitted him of drug possession due to procedural issues with the arrest and search, while sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor for assaulting security personnel.

Upon appeal, the defendant denied all charges and presented his defense. The Court of Appeal upheld the acquittal for drug possession but applied Law No. 159 of 2025 on combating drugs and psychotropic substances, which became effective on December 15, 2025, to the assault charge. The court ruled that the new law was more favorable to the accused, resulting in the prison term being reduced to one year.

This ruling marks the first application of the new drug law by the Court of Appeal, setting a precedent for future cases.