Conspirators are jailed for anti-UAE plots

Online content was offensive to the country’s policies

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal sentenced an Emirati to 10 years in prison on charges of communicating with clandestine groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

He created pages on social media and posted pictures and articles that are offensive to the UAE and its domestic and foreign policies, the court ruled.

The Emirati man was in court when the jail term was announced, the Arabic-language newspaper Aletihad reported.

It also ordered the confiscation of devices and equipment used in the crime and closed the sites he created.

In a similar case, another Emirati was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison, a Dh1 million fine and confiscation of property after being found guilty of forming a prohibited political party abroad and branches in the UAE. He created Twitter and Facebook pages offensive to the UAE, its symbols and officials, the court said.

In an unrelated case before the same court, one Emirati admitted to buying a handgun, a shotgun and 20 rounds of ammunition from a second Emirati to use in hunting. Both said they were unaware the weapons were unlicensed and stolen.

A third man, an Egyptian, denied taking part in the sale and purchase of the firearms. Their hearing was set for early May.

In a final case, an Egyptian man was charged with the possession of a forged passport from Ukraine. He denied the charge and his lawyer filed a motion for acquittal. That case will also be heard in May.