Dallas Austin pardoned for cocaine possession

Just hours after a criminal court sentenced Grammy-winning producer Dallas Austin to four years in prison today, Dubai’s ruler issued a pardon that was to set him free.

A pair of attorneys for the 34-year-old R&B composer, who pleaded guilty on Sunday to bringing a gram and a quarter of cocaine into the United Arab Emirates city, said the pardon authorising Austin’s release was a matter of paperwork.

But Austin remained jailed today at Dubai Central Prison.

One of his lawyers said Austin’s release could take a few days.

The lawyer said he needed to be cautious speaking about the pardon until Austin was safe on a plane back to his home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, seen as the benevolent leader behind the emirate’s hurtling building boom, has previously pardoned others jailed on drug charges.

Earlier today, a judge in Dubai’s criminal court sentenced Austin, who has crafted beats for TLC, Madonna and Janet Jackson, to serve the minimum sentence of four years in prison.