Trial continues, terrorists receive different judgments [Archives:2006/920/Front Page]
February 13 2006
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SANA'A, Feb. 12 ) The Specialist Penal Court for state security held its second session Saturday, Feb. 11, resuming the trial of 14 suspects accused of forming an armed gang and planning to carry out terrorist attacks on Western interests in Yemen.
Items seized with suspects were presented to the court including a mobile telephone connected to a remote control, an electricity measuring device, a device used for encasing identity cards, four Security and Civil Status Authority stamps used in issuing ID cards and passports, a computer and several CDs. Prosecution accused suspects of using the computer to forge ID cards.
A map of sites to be detonated, another computer, a fan, an old hunting gun, an explosive belt, a sulfur substance, a urine substance and several tins filled with TNT also were among exhibits.
Suspects admitting the exhibits were theirs were: Mohamed Abdulaziz Fateeni, Saif Al-Amaari, Sami Al-Shoaibi, Amar Al-Maradi and Ali Mohamed Sofian. Al-Shoaibi denied that the electrical circuit is used in detonation, claiming it is for charging batteries.
Several suspects denied accusations against them, while others refused to answer accusations directed at them. Hassan Al-Hada denied prosecution accusations against him, saying they were not his testimony and adding that fingerprints at the bottom of the page also were not his. However, prosecution insists he confessed of his own accord and signed his confession.
Some suspects refused to answer, asking their lawyers to answer on their behalf. Ashraf Al-Anisi, Adnan Wajeeh's lawyer, asked the court to free his client and compensate him, demanding the court formally and substantially accept Wajeeh's defense. Al-Anisi claimed his demand is based on several reasons, including lack of material evidence, and that political security broke the law by detaining his client seven months without charge. He added that there is no law preventing Wajeeh's use of an electrical circuit, as he is an electrical engineer. Al-Anisi maintained that Wajeeh did not know what the suspects were planning; besides, he had no connection with them and did not participate in any criminal act. Al-Anisi also criticized the court for denying him access to his client.
First suspect Sofian's lawyer also demanded his client's release and declaration of his innocence, confirming that Sofian remained in prison a whole year since his capture on Feb. 9, 2004 in clear violation of the law.
At the end of the session, the court decided to postpone the case until next Saturday to enable prosecution to present its rebuttal to the suspects' lawyers.
Security detained the 14 suspects since May 9, 2005, where they were captured in Shomila area of Sana'a, accusing them of planning to attack Western interests, as well as military and security personnel.
The Specialist State Security Court's Appeal Department held a session Saturday, Feb. 11, upholding the First Instance Court's judgment against suspects accused of attacking Western embassies of the United States, Britain and Italy and the French Cultural Center. The sentences were: four years' imprisonment for Iraqi national Anwar Al-Jailani, Khalid Al-Batati, three years' imprisonment for Khalid Al-Batati and two years' imprisonment under judgment of arrest for Omar Al-Faqeh. Abdulrahman Ba-Sora was sentenced to three years, four months, while Mohamed Khaity received three years, beginning from their detention date.
The First Instance Court convicted the six suspects August 8, 2005 of membership in Kataieb Al-Tawheed organization, an Al-Qaeda branch. They were accused of planning to attack Western interests inside and outside Yemen, as well as being accused of attacking the British and Italian embassies. Their trial began March 31, when prosecution accused them of forming an armed gang and planning to kill top government officials, including the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Defense and Interior. They were accused of targeting Gulf interests as well.
In related news, the First Instance Court withheld yesterday the case of suspects accused of trying to assassinate the former U.S. ambassador in Yemen Edmund Hall, in order to issue its ruling March 5. The last defense was presented in the session prior to issuing the judgment. Prosecution charged Hizam Ali Hassan Al-Mas and Khaled Saleh Hadi with making a criminal deal to attack foreigners.
Prosecution accused suspects of following a car with diplomatic plates carrying passengers, including the U.S. ambassador. Suspects attacked the police car accompanying the ambassador when it stopped near a Hadda Street shop. They targeted the ambassador with a pistol and grenades.
Lawyers Adel Al-Himiary and Hilal Al-Shoibi demanded their clients' release due to lack of material evidence.
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