Special penal court tries Watani Bank employees [Archives:2006/914/Local News]

SANA'A, Jan. 22 – A special penal court held its first session Sunday, hearing the case against Watani Bank chairman, Dr. Ahmed Ali Al-Hamdani, and other employees accused of breaching trust and squandering clients' deposits.

Hamdani's lawyer, Abdullah Hashim, maintained the court's unauthorization to prosecute the case. He pointed out that bank affairs are commercial, whoever the borrowers are, and requested the court commission a special firm to study the case and submit a report.

Hamdani denied all prosecution accusations against him. The other nine suspects, including a Pakistani national, also denied the accusations, demanding to be tried before a specialized court.

Lawyer Nadia Al-Kholaifi, another member of Hamdani's defense team, also demanded suspending penal procedures until the case's commercial aspect is determined. She said the appeal against the Central Bank's right to seize the Watani Bank is not decided yet. It concerns the Central Bank's action following its declaration of the Watani Bank's incompetence to meet depositors' rights.

Al-Kholaifi also rejected the Central Bank's right to refer a civil case to the court if it is to consider the penal matter. She requested the court lift the ban on her three client's salaries because they are not included in the Central Bank's seizure. She also demanded her clients' release on bail, as their deposits exceeded the value of loans granted to them. The court postponed considering their release and the salary matter until its next session Feb. 6.

The court assigned a translator to the Pakistani suspect who cannot speak Arabic. It also allowed defense lawyers to photocopy case files, but prohibited publicizing case details starting from the next session.

The 10 suspects are accused of embezzling YR 19 billion in bank deposits. They deny the charges, but admit obtaining legal loans and regularly paying their installments.
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