Terrorist suspects’ trials continue [Archives:2006/924/Front Page]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
SANA'A, Feb. 26 ) The Specialized State Security Penal Court held a session February 25 to try 14 suspects accused of forming an armed band to attack Western interests in Yemen.
The court held a hearing to list Prosecution evidence, which contained suspects' confessions in attorney's minutes and in the seized items list. Seized items included weapons, bombs, computers, fake stamps and identity cards and powerful C4 explosive, in addition to electrical circuits connected to mobile phones for remote detonation.
Suspects admitted the truth of all that came from Prosecution investigations but said they were preparing it for use against Americans in Iraq. However, some suspects said the evidence was incorrect, alleging that it was taken forcibly. Some suspects also complained of poor treatment by security (intelligence), such as little food and being put in solitary underground cells.
The court also heard lawyers' defense of their clients. Lawyer for suspect Sami Al-Shabi presented a defense of his client's illegal accusation, demanding Al-Shabi's acquittal and release. However, suspect Badredeen Hussein's lawyer asked for an extra chance to prepare his reply to Prosecution's verdict.
The court ordered the attorney to quickly visit and inspect suspects' detention sites, which are to take necessary measures to guarantee them appropriate feeding and healthy situations. Their families also are to be allowed to visit them. The court decided that Prosecution will present its reply at the next Sunday session.
Security forces arrested the 14 suspects May 9, 2005 in the Shomila area of Sana'a. The government accused them of planning to target Western interests and military and security personnel.
Trial begins of 17 suspects who targeted Americans in Yemen
Amid strict security measures, on Feb. 22, the First Instance State Security Court began trying 17 suspects accused of forming an armed band to plan and carry out terrorist operations targeting foreigners in Yemen, as well as Yemeni officials.
Prosecution accused the 17 Yemeni and Saudi nationals of forming the band during 2004 and 2005. They are accused of engaging in criminal actions to kill Americans and Yemenis in retaliation for the killing of Abu Ali Al-Harithi, Al-Qaeda leader in Yemen. Al-Harithi was killed by an American plane in Marib in the U.S. campaign against terror. He was the prime suspect in planning the 2001 USS Cole attack in Aden.
Prosecution accused suspects of providing weapons, explosives and electrical circuits for remote detonation, as well as forging identity cards and passports.
Prosecution recited suspects' names, confirming that Ali Abdullah Naji Al-Harithi, nicknamed Abu Ali Al-Harithi junior, was the cell's leader. Prosecution also said investigation minutes confirmed that the first suspect formed the cell as revenge for Abu Ali Al-Harithi's killing. Naji Al-Harithi is accused of dividing up roles, purchasing weapons, renting houses, making plans and identifying the whereabouts of Americans and Yemeni agents cooperating with the US in order to kidnap them.
Prosecution mentioned that the Yemeni cell facilitated some of the Saudi suspects' entry into Yemen to commit subversive operations by providing them fake Yemeni documents.
Prosecution also noted that money, computers, weapons and anti-armor missiles were seized in the rented houses. It continued, saying that suspect Amar Abdullah Mohamed Fadil (Abu Asim) traveled to Syria on a forged passport. When he returned to Sana'a, he obtained a fake identity card with a different name. He brought back with him electrical circuits and a CD containing programs explaining how to make explosive belts.
Prosecution also reviewed entry details of non-Yemenis from evidence minutes, as well as coordination details between the groups. It revealed that targeting of Americans was to be carried out at some sites, including the Aden Sheraton Hotel. At the conclusion of evidence recitation, Prosecution asserted that such plans will make Yemen a field for terrorist operations, endangering the community's security and damaging Yemen's relations with targeted countries, and asked the court to punish suspects as severely as possible.
The court asked suspects to respond to the accusations. They denied forming an armed band to carry out detonations and assassinations inside Yemen, saying their imprisonment and trial for forming an armed band were based on fabricated accusations due to their involvement in jihad in Iraq. Cell leader Naji Al-Harithi said all accusations were fabricated by political security (intelligence).
He confessed to handing over the electrical circuits, which Prosecution alleged it seized with him, to the political security head on his own. He said the circuits were with him because contesters of President George W. Bush in U.S. elections said he would strike Yemen and Saudi Arabia if he won the election. Al-Harithi decided to face the Americans, saying, “I was in Iraq then. My aim was to be inside Yemen if they attacked my country to defend it. But following the end of U.S. elections and Bush's success, I handed over the circuits to the security leader.”
Some suspects complained of poor prison conditions, saying they are being imprisoned in underground cells and do not see the sun. Some said they were beaten. Suspect Ali Al-Kurdi, an electrical engineer, said he was beaten until he fainted and severely tortured more than once. Al-Kurdi said he has been on a hunger strike for several days.
Some suspects admitted that they trained youths in 2004, some of whom fought in Iraq.
Suspects rejected the accusation of coordinating with Jordanian Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, saying that Al-Zarqawi did not send them to Yemen to revenge Al-Harithi's killing. Some confessed to entering Yemen, following jihad in Iraq, with fake names to avoid arrest by security forces. Yet some suspects, including Muhsin Mubarak, said they came to Yemen for treatment after being injured in Iraq.
Suspect Mosa'ad Mohamed Ahmed Al-Barbari, a finalist engineering student at Halab College, said the accusation was fabricated and demanded he be transferred to Central Prison. Saudi suspect Mohamed Saeed Fare Al-Qirshi requested humane treatment, saying the only accusation against him is that he intended traveling to Iraq and was punished for his intention.
The court session included local and international media presence, among whom were media representatives from the Guardian and the American New York Times. Suspect Mohamed Al-Qahtani requested Al-Jazeera Channel photograph him so his mother could see him because his family does not know where he is.
At the end of the session, Judge Mohamed Al-Ba'adani decided that Wednesday's session will be to display seized items and Prosecution evidence. He directed prison authorities to implement prison regulations to the letter and feed suspects in a proper manner. Tenth suspect Ahmed Hizam was allowed to see a doctor and all suspects were allowed to contact their families. The judge also decided to give a copy of Prosecution's verdict to suspects' lawyer.
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