Wednesday, Feb 15, 2017

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court sentenced 29-year-old Emirati S.H.S. to life in prison for his affiliation to terror outfit Daesh and for joining the terrorist group’s training camps in Syria.

The court also sentenced 43-year-old Emirati woman A.A. to 10 years in prison for joining Daesh, pledging allegiance to the leader of Daesh, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, on social media platforms associated with the terrorist group and posting information that promote terrorist ideologies. It also ordered the seizure of all equipment and devices belonging to the accused.

In the same case, the accused’s sister, A.A., 39, was cleared of all charges against her.

The court also ordered the transfer of three Emirati men to counselling centres belonging to the Ministry of Interior and placing them under surveillance and banning them from travelling for six months.

In other state security cases, the court heard the defence arguments of the lawyer and ordered the transfer of several Emirati defendants to a “counselling centre” for posing a terrorist risk, as per the request of the state prosecution.

In a different case, the court heard the prosecution’s list of charges against 51-year-old Emirati A.N.S. accused of calling Sharjah Police Operations Room and using degrading and defaming rhetoric and offensive language against them and against the UAE leaders and other state officials.

The defendant denied all charges against him and the court reserved the case for a verdict on March 1, 2017.

The court also heard the defence arguments of lawyer Ali Al Abadi in a case against Jordanian national T.N. accused of posting information on social media that insulted the UAE, its officials and foreign policy.

Al Abadi requested dropping of all charges against his client and said that he posted this information while he was in another Arab country and not in the UAE, and therefore the court is not designated to look into the case.

He added that his client was not in the UAE in 2012 when he posted the offensive information against the UAE, and that the incident occurred before the cyber crime law was issued.

Al Abadi pointed out that his client came to the country looking for a job and stressed that he is loyal to the UAE, and has not committed any wrongdoing against any state official or the country’s foreign policy.

He added that there is a contradiction in the defendant’s confessions submitted by the prosecution indicating that he was under pressure while being interrogated.

Al Abadi demanded the acquittal of his client and the court reserved the case for a ruling on March 15.

In another case, the court accused 28-year-old Emirati M.S.A.N. of travelling to Yemen to join Daesh and take part in its training camps.

He was also accused of funding and supporting to build the training camps, while being aware of the terrorist group’s objectives.

The defendant denied all charges against him and said that he travelled to Yemen to get married and bring his wife to the country.

The court reserved the case for a verdict on March 15.

In two separate cases, the state security prosecution accused J.S.K., 40, and M.N.N., 76, both Emiratis, of smuggling banned weapons, guns, pistols, and ammunition without getting a permit or official licence from the designated authorities.

The court reserved the two cases for ruling on February 22.

In another case, Pakistani national A.A. was accused of spying for the Pakistan Embassy and revealing information about a local telecommunications company.

The defence lawyer requested the acquittal of his client for lack of criminal intent and said that he had good intentions and was only exchanging information about his workplace and was unaware of the confidentiality of such information.

He added that his client was unaware that the person he exchanged the information with worked with the Pakistan’s intelligence service.

The court reserved the case for a ruling on March 15.

by Abdulla Rasheed Abu Dhabi Editor

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