Court documents stated that the police caught the men from one of the streets in Abu Dhabi.

Three workers, who were convicted of consuming liquor on the street without licenses, claimed they didn't know that drinking alcohol was prohibited in the UAE.

The Asian men had been earlier fined Dh10,000 each by the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance after they were found guilty of illegally drinking alcohol.

They, however, challenged the ruling in the Appeal Court, admitting to their crimes but asking for a lighter sentence.

In their latest hearing, the Asian men, who claimed they've been in the country for only a few months, told the court that they didn't know it was illegal to drink alcohol in the UAE.

"We admit to drinking alcohol while walking on the street. We had no idea drinking alcohol was prohibited in the UAE," the men said.

"We ask the court to be lenient with us and give us a lighter sentence because we are poor workers, earning low salaries. We cannot afford to pay the hefty fines ordered by the first court."

Court documents stated that the police caught the men from one of the streets in Abu Dhabi while drinking liquor, for which they were charged by the prosecutors.

The judge ordered that the men's passports remain with the court until a final ruling is issued.

The trial was adjourned until April 23.

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