Monday, Jan 11, 2016
Abu Dhabi: A verdict is set to be issued on January 31 in a case involving 11 Emiratis charged with joining the terrorist organisation Daesh, the Federal Supreme Court said on Monday.
On Monday, defence lawyers argued that the arrest and interrogation of the defendants was invalid for lack of serious investigation and information, and demanded that they be cleared on all charges. The lawyers told the court that the defendants were minors when they were arrested. The lawyers also claimed that the confessions had been obtained under duress.
A defendant told the court that he was persuaded to travel to Syria to join aid workers in Syria and that he had no clue about the nature of the terrorist group or its plans.
In an earlier hearing, Hamdan Al Zayoudi, the lawyer for one of the defendants, had argued that the accused was simply one among a group of friends who studied together in the United States and that their relationship was nothing more.
“The defendant returned back home, applied to join a government organisation in Abu Dhabi and also the national service. Before he joined the job, he wanted to travel along with his parents to India on a medical trip, but he was barred from travelling,” Al Zayoudi told the court.
The lawyer sought to impress on the court that the defendant had never travelled abroad after his studies in the US, and neither had he joined any terrorist organisation in Syria or anywhere else.
Al Zayoudi added that the defendant had told prosecutors that he had intended to travel to Syria via Turkey to join a terrorist organisation, but he had later backtracked and had never gone there.
The lawyer demanded that the defendant be acquitted on all charges.
Another lawyer, Jasem Al Naqbi, said his client was influenced by the terrorist ideology and had travelled to Turkey but later changed his mind and did not travel onwards to Syria or join any terrorist organisation.
Six men charged with funding Yemen’s Al Houthi militia group had their hearing adjourned to January 18, when a verdict is set to be issued.
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 these 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 on charged of providing funds to a terrorist organisation or person and collecting, preparing, obtaining or facilitating funding for such terrorist organisation or person.
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.
Convicted terrorists face capital punishment, life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh100 million, according to a federal law to combat terrorism endorsed last year.
An Arab, MMHH, charged with joining terrorist organisations in Libya, had his hearing adjourned to February 1 when his lawyer will present his defence.
A video clip of a spokesman of the terrorist organisation Libya Dawn threatening to attack the UAE, was shown in the court. Prosecutors presented to the court evidence that the man joined the terrorist group and raised funds to support it. The man reportedly exported cars, machines and equipment to the group. He also allegedly provided the group with information about the UAE.
An Emirati charged with spying for Iran had his hearing adjourned to February 1 to allow the lawyer to review documents. JMRB, 28, an officer at the Dubai Residency and Foreign Affairs Department, allegedly made an offer to the Iranian consulate in Dubai to pass on information about Iranians wanted for security violations. The man denied charges.
A citizen of a Gulf country, MSR, charged with setting up and running an online account to insult UAE leaders and spreading rumours about the country, had a report about his mental health submitted to the court and had his hearing adjourned to January 18.
By Abdulla Rasheed Abu Dhabi Editor
Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.
