Hearings adjourned in six terror cases
VERDICT IN AL HOUTHI FUNDING CASE TO BE ISSUED ON JANUARY 11
The State Security Court at the Federal Supreme Court yesterday adjourned hearings in six terror-related cases to January 10, 11 and 18. Six men, who were charged with funding Yemen’s Al Houthi group and providing them with chemicals, communication equipment, among other supplies, had the hearing adjourned to January 11 when a verdict will be issued.
Lawyers of the defendants asked that the defendants be cleared of all offences.
“The men had no clue that the equipment and supplies were meant to reach the Al Houthi militants,” a lawyer told the court.
Five Yemenis and one Omani were charged with providing Al Houthi militia in Yemen with supplies, chemicals and communication equipment, prosecutors alleged.
Prosecutors said the provisions were procured by Abdul Malek Mohammad Ahmad Al Makhnaqi, 40, Abdullah Mohammad Ahmad Attiya, 41, Abdul Rahman Mohammad Abd Rabbo Al Sayyad, 34, all Yemenis, and Gulam Abdullah Mohammad Al Beloushi, 49, Omani.
“They handed over the equipment and chemicals to Salah Salem Mohammad Mahjoub, 36, and Faisal Ahmad Ali Al Jareedi, 41, both Yemenis, who transported the same to the terrorist group,” said Saqr Saif, the State Security Prosecutor.
The prosecutors also charged Attiya with investing money belonging to the Al Houthi group in a Dubai-based general trading business that the accused set up for this purpose.
Prosecutors demanded that the accused be punished with life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than 10 years for providing funds to a terrorist organisation or person or collecting, preparing, obtaining or facilitating funding for such terrorist organisation or person.
Bid to seize power
Article 32/2 of the UAE Federal Law No. 7 of 2014 on Combating Terrorism Offences states that life imprisonment or temporary imprisonment for not less than 10 years shall be imposed on whoever supplies a terrorist organisation or terrorist person with equipment, valid or false documents, communication means or any materials, information, consultation, dwelling, habitation, place for meeting or any other facilities which help such organisation or person achieve the purpose thereof, although aware of their truth or purpose.
In another case in which A.R.N., a Libyan, was charged with joining terrorist groups with the intent of seizing power in the Arab country.
An officer told the court the defendant, a UAE resident, was a member of the terrorist Libyan Dawn group which plans to seize power in Libya. “The man was in touch with other terrorist organisations in Libya, including Tripoli’s Martyr Brigade and Al Karama,” the officer said.
He added the defendant had bought 25 four-wheel-drive vehicles, wireless devices, 100 military uniforms and 10 power generators and sent these to the terrorist groups. “The man also transferred 125,000 Libyan Dinars to these groups,” the officer said.
After the witness was crossexamined by the defendant’s lawyer, the judge adjourned the case to January 18 when the lawyer can present his defence.
In another case, KFMS, an Arab, who is charged with setting up and running an internet page for promoting the terrorist ideologies of Daesh and recruiting people to join the terrorist organisation, had the hearing adjourned to January 18 when the lawyer can make his case.
The defendant denied the charges.
In the third case, a Libyan, M.M.H., is charged with joining the Libyan Dawn group and connection with last year’s attacks on the UAE embassy in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, had the hearing adjourned to January 11 to allow the prosecution to present its case.
A lawyer of an Indian man, charged with spying for his country, had his hearing adjourned to January 10, when a ruling will be issued.