Dallas Austin, who appeared briefly in court in jeans and a white dress shirt, was accompanied by four attorneys, one of the UAE, one from Bahrain and two from the United States.

According to reports, Austin’s legal team will seek a pardon from Dubai’s ruler, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Austin, who is facing up to four years in prison, was arrested May 19 at Dubai’s airport while enroute to a birthday bash for supermodel Naomi Campbell.

He told the judge that he unintentionally broke the law by bringing cocaine into the country, which has a strict policy against illegal drugs. Pardons have been issued in similar cases. Austin is expected to retain a criminal record and eventually be released from prison and deported.