Trial begins for Al-Qaeda’s number two man in Yemen [Archives:2006/921/Front Page]
By: Yemen Times Staff
SANA'A, Feb. 14 ) The Specialized State Security Court began its first session in trying two Al-Qaeda suspects. Mohamed Hamdi Al-Ahdal, 35, nicknamed Abu Asim Al-Maki, is suspected of being Al-Qaeda's number two man in Yemen. He is from Al-Hodeidah in west Yemen, but was born in Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia. The second Al-Qaeda suspect is Ghalib Abdullah Ali Al-Zaidi, 28, from Marib governorate in east Yemen.
The session was attended by a large number of journalists, Amnesty International representatives and those interested in terror cases. Prosecution accused the suspects of participating in an armed band to commit criminal acts. It also accused them of collecting money to support armed operations against Western interests in Yemen.
Prosecution focused on first suspect Al-Ahdal's role in planning and targeting Western interests and helping to collect money to finance the terrorist operations. He was a connecting link between supporters and executioners and considered Al-Qaeda's finance officer in Yemen.
Prosecution confirmed that second suspect Al-Zaidi's role was to cover and protect Al-Ahdal and other suspects. He was also was accused of conducting some operations aimed at destabilizing security and killing army personnel.
Prosecution decisions and investigations also mentioned Al-Ahdal's confession to joining criminal actions targeting Western interests. He joined the band in 2000 after becoming acquainted with Abu Ali Al-Harithi, Al-Qaeda's top man in Yemen. Al-Harithi was the one who planned the October 2000 USS Cole attack in Aden. He was killed by an unmanned U.S. predator drone in Marib in 2002.
Attorney investigations and the Prosecution indictment pointed out that Al-Ahdal trained to use various types of arms, including bombs, rockets and land mines. He collected money in the name of the Caucasus Charitable Society. He is said to have received $44,000 from a man named Kamal Abu Hijazi, the former Al-Qaeda financial officer in Yemen, in addition to 1,061,500 Saudi riyals. Al-Harithi also gave him 50,000 Saudi riyals from Osama Bin Laden to finance Al-Qaeda operations in Yemen.
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The Prosecution indictment also stated that Al-Ahdal hid in Al-Zaidi's house in Marib following the USS Cole attack. While in Marib, he became acquainted with suspects Ali Gasim Al-Raimi and Ibrahim Hoidi, who are accused of attacking the French tanker Limburg in Mukkala in 2002. The acquaintance followed their escape from Aden Security Prison. During this meeting, Al-Ahdal informed Al-Raimi about his group's plan to attack an American airplane on a Sana'a Airport runway.
The Prosecution indictment indicated that Al-Ahdal used aliases to hide his identity while in Marib. Following Prosecution's account, Al-Ahdal and Al-Zaidi denied the accusations. Al-Zaidi alleged that the accusations are baseless and fabricated, demanding that those accusing him be prosecuted. He noted that there are continuing disputes between his tribe and the government. Al-Zaidi also called for improving his prison situation and releasing him because he is ill.
The court agreed to have a doctor examine him and submit a report on his condition. It also allowed Al-Zaidi's relatives and friends to visit him. It instructed Prosecution to submit its evidence at the next February session. The court also allowed Al-Zaidi and Al-Ahdal's lawyers to see their case records in order to submit their defense at the next session.
Al-Zaidi was arrested when summoned along with some tribal sheikhs to the president for investigations on the disappearance of some terrorists in Marib in 2003.
The security apparatus considers Al-Ahdal one of the most dangerous Al-Qaeda elements. He joined fighting in Chechnya and Afghanistan, but left field work following amputation of one of his legs. He took the job of follow up, coordination and financing and was the connecting link for financing several Al-Qaeda operations in Yemen. Government reports confirm that amounts spent by Al-Ahdal in 2002 reached half a million dollars and were used to buy weapons and explosives to carry out terrorist operations.
A Saudi-born citizen of Yemeni origin, Al-Ahdal completed secondary schooling in Saudi Arabia. He worked in the honey trade and headed the Caucasus Charitable Society. He was detained during his wedding party, imprisoned for a year and two months in Saudi Arabia and then extradited to Hodeidah city in Yemen.
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