Brit DJ Grooverider tells of Dubai prison ordeal

DJ SPEAKS: British DJ Grooverider has spoken about his Dubai prison ordeal. (Supplied)

British DJ Grooverider has spoken about his Dubai prison ordeal, describing the experience as “appalling”.

Grooverider, real name Raymond Bingham, was jailed in Dubai in February after being caught with 2.16 grams of marijuana at Dubai Airport in November.

He was pardoned at the end of August as part of a Ramadan amnesty, serving 10 months of a four-year sentence.

In his first interview since his release, Bingham told British broadcaster the BCC he wanted to move on and the ordeal was “water under the bridge” now.

He said he had been caught by a customs inspector at the airport, after arriving to play a gig in the emirate.

The inspector had initially told him he would only be deported after the small piece of marijuana was found in the pocket of his jeans.

However, Bingham was instead taken to Dubai’s deportation jail where inmates informed him that his crime would see him jailed for four years.

"When I heard four years, I kind of dropped a little bit, I nearly fell on the floor," Bingham told the BBC.

He spent four months in the detention centre in conditions he described as "appalling".

"They don't have toilets, they have holes in the ground. There's eight people to a cell and they do treat you all right don't get me wrong, but it's just horrible seeing so many people come in for nothing," he said.

Following his sentence of four years in jail, he was transferred to Dubai's main prison where he remained until he was told of his Ramadan pardon.

“…when it got announced there were people crying and rolling around on the floor. Everybody was excited to finally get out of there. I felt relief just knowing it was coming to an end."

The Radio 1 DJ told the BBC he was looking forward to getting back to work.

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Brit DJ Grooverider
Posted by Saeed Iqbal, Dubai, UAE on Monday 13 October 2008 at 09:53 UAE time


I support Charles comments 100%. Dubai and it's residents have double standards.

Grooverider
Posted by Charles on Monday 6 October 2008 at 09:42 UAE time


1. Grooverider is a legend in some circles. If he is invited to perform in Dubai, we should not expect him to change to a teetotal choirboy. He is a product of the postmodern world and club culture, created by popular demand by a generation in the developed world. If you don’t want his type in Dubai, don’t pay for him to come or invite him, or let him through the airport. You don’t invite a guest and then imprison him, not in my house anyway.
2. Dubai prisons and judiciary system are sub-standard, they lack due process and minimum standard of treatment. And yes, I can speak with authority on the subject. I will grant you that you can call them safe – one may end up in cells with rapist and murderers, but typically they do not seem violent once in a Dubai prison, but that is the only plus I will accept. They are appalling compared to other developed countries.
3. Dubai is indeed contradictive, double standards, hypocritical, etc. We are growing quickly but are still an emerging market, despite having Starbucks and a no-smoking law, we do still lack human rights, and do generally default to Sharia law on aspects of controversy. We are changing, but the growing pains are severe, and things take time.
4. I am ashamed to hear the comments here of some Dubai residents who clearly wish to stay in the dark ages. Have you no humanity, clemency, understanding? If the Ruler grants mercy to some person should we not celebrate this? I am only sorry more people did not gain pardons or assistance for their situation.
5. To Grooverider – apologies for your rough treatment in Dubai. I hope that you will forgive us, and see one day the greater picture of what we here are trying to achieve. Best of luck going forwards, and I hope you get past the sleepless nights and dark memories soon – for I am sure the experience of the last few months will haunt you for sometime to come. Sometimes we need criticism, a push, and guidance as to how to improve as we grow.

Release of Raymond Bingham
Posted by Semeen Ghazi, dubai, UAE on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 16:55 UAE time

Raymond should thank his stars on the genorosity of the UAE rulers... he had committed a crime and he was punished ... so whats the ho, ha about. Are people not charged in his country for committing a crime which is punishable by law. What does he expect a jail to be... a bed of flowers.. infact in the UAE jails, I have heard people are treated very humanely as compared to jails in other parts of the world.
Raymond should not have been allowed to go till he completed his 4 years to teach everyone a lesson

Hey DJ, don't spin that wheel!
Posted by A Brit National, Dubai, U.A.E. on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 16:22 UAE time

Hey Mr.DJ, count your lucky stars that you were not caught in a western country and sent to Jail.

Dubai detention cells and main Prison are clean and safe.

Most inmates and all Police officers are both kind & treat each other like proper decent human beings.

How do I know, well I spent 11months in detention and 2 years at central.

I used my time reading books and helping other inmates write letters to thier families.

Yes there is one thing you have said that is true, and that is, there are some people inside that really don't belong there, and therefore I once again say, consider yourself very Lucky to get off so soon.

From a fellow Brit, who has been in Dubai for over 20 years, I don't do drugs, or fight in planes.

Next time pls do try setting a good example that we Brits can be proud of.

To Tim in London
Posted by Chunga, Dubai on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 14:57 UAE time


Please do stay away and tell others there too, we do not need any more Brits coming here doing things that are not allowed here, not on our beaches, not in our planes, not in our clubs.

We don't need you !
Posted by John, Dubai on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 14:13 UAE time


Hey, Tim from London... OK, STOP COMING! What on earth makes you think Dubai welcomes drug abusers. Stay there mate.

Be grateful!
Posted by Zahara, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 12:30 UAE time


It is people like Raymond Bingham who help make drugs seem appealing to young people but making it look cool. Instead of whining and complaining about the conditions here, perhaps he could have used his celebrity status to promote the anti-drug message and help point youngsters in the right direction - but I guess not. He is fortunate that the Ruler of Dubai is so forgiving, I would have left him there. It obviously wasn't a long enough stay in prison for him to actually learn his lesson!

Drugs, a crime even in many western societies
Posted by Waqqas, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 10:56 UAE time


To Aadil from Johannesburg:
My friend, it is clear you didn't do your homework before writing this lengthy comment here, just for criticizing Dubai. Being a progressive and friendly country doesn't at all mean that drugs will be allowed here. The laws that you are calling "idiotic" are the laws that have created environment here which is attracting scores of westerners from their very own "western" and "progressive" countries.

You certainly seem to have some grudge against the city due to which you are using this kind of language ... why? Did you also get caught for carring "just" few grams???

Ramadan pardon wasted on Grooverider
Posted by Jeremy, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 5 October 2008 at 08:57 UAE time


The laws of the UAE actually make this country a safe and enjoyable place to live. Grooverider's comment about jail are simply laughable. Surely he must realise that jail is meant to punish. When visiting any country surely you would do some research on the laws and customs? Well it seems that his arrogance and illegal act has not improved his thinking. The only thing it will improve is perhaps his earning potential. Something that society has to consider - do we really want to reward the law breakers?

For Nothing
Posted by Tim, London on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 22:02 UAE time


It is a shame. And it was for NOTHING. 2-3 grams of the stuff is not for selling, it is just for personal use. So lighten Dubai. Or we WILL stop coming!

Interesting point
Posted by John, Dubai on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 15:24 UAE time

By the way, it's funny to see that the only posts defending this moron come from people who don't actually live here. Expats and nationals who have written below both say keep the rubbish out! Clear enough signal?

Keep the idiots out
Posted by John, Dubai on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 15:20 UAE time

I am so glad this idiot had a bad time in jail. It is not 'western' to allow drugs into a country, any more than it is 'Islamic' to punish people who deliberately commit a criminal act like this. There are plenty of people in the west who would like much tougher punishments for many crimes at home too.

Who cares if rich people dont want to come here, the property bubble bursts, morons like this stay at home, etc etc. Dubai doesn't need these tramps, nor the rich guys who think they also can behave as they want.

dj on drugs with an attitude
Posted by brit in arabia for22 yrs, abu dhabi, uae on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 14:20 UAE time

Baa humbugg this guy thinks he can get away with the law because he is from the uk & had 2 grams in his pocket. So what if he was brit and a dj, so what if he is famous..i couldnt care less. Drugs is drugs. UAE law, bahrain embassy, and british embassy in dubai and abu dhabi all state clearly. NO DRUGS ! Sheikh Mohammed should have kept him in for 4 years.

Pr
Posted by Leo, Canada on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 12:43 UAE time


Being sentenced to 4 years in prison for carrying 2 grams of Marijuana is simply preposterous and ridiculous. To the guy who thinks that you get executed in Singapore and Thailand, that is simply for carrying kilos of heroin for the purpose of dealing, not 2 grams of marijuana.

rules are ment to break-attitude.
Posted by hafeez, dubai, uae on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 11:02 UAE time

Sorry boss, you are wrong. Accept your mistake before comment to your ordeal, this is prison not five star hotel. Thank god at least you come out in eight month or you would have spent your four years in this prison to understand reality of life. Blessed ramadan month came in eight months to give you freedom.

Lucky!
Posted by Anonymous, DUbai, UAe on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 09:25 UAE time


I agree with the comments above - additionally, he is lucky he was not caught with posession in Singapore or Thailand - otherwise it would be death sentence for sure. A few of them should be given severe punishment to knock some sense into the rest of them. Dont know why they think they can get away with everything coming to the middle east.

Dubai - a Bi-Polar town
Posted by Aadil, Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday 3 October 2008 at 19:07 UAE time

Dubai, just doesn't make sense some times. On one hand Dubai appears friendly and progressive but on the other hand you get idiotic laws where people are jailed for 4 years for carrying a couple of grams of marijuana.

Dubai, make up your mind, either you try to be western progressive or hardline islamic. It appears there's no middle ground, only 2 sides pulling Dubai in each direction

Dubai wants to compare itself to Monte Carlo, London and New York, and attract millionaires and billionaires but if the authorities continue with stuff like this, the rich will never come. In case you didn't realise rich (non-muslim) people, even the highly civilised ones love to throw it down pretty hard.
Pretty soon, Dubai won't be so fashionable and the rich will stop coming. I'll have no problem with that, nor with the zero tolerance drugs policy. But I'd love to see who's going to want to live in the swanky beach villas on the private islands and who's going to come & stay in the over-priced/over-decorated 5 star hotels.

Till then enjoy the bubble, the great press, the interest of the world. But remember it won't last forever or past 2012.

DJ Moron!
Posted by Lee, Dubai, UAE on Friday 3 October 2008 at 15:32 UAE time


I can't help but think the pardon was wasted on this guy if he believes he did nothing wrong. The quote above has him saying "it's just horrible seeing so many people come in for nothing". Did he say "nothing"? HELLO DJ dumb dumb!! Marijuana is illegal in many countries around the world. Why does this guy think a conservative country like the UAE would tolerate this and let him off the hook? I have lived in the Middle East for 10 years. I am still amazed when I read about Western expats who think they should be treated differently when they break the rules. This guy is lucky he got out when he did.

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