Verdict on Al Houthi backers on January 31

State security court hears four other cases including that of a blogger

Averdict is set to be issued on January 31 in a case involving six men charged with funding Yemen’s Al Houthi group and providing them with chemicals, communication equipment, among other supplies, the Federal Supreme Court said yesterday.

Prosecutors earlier told the court presided over by judge Mohammad Jarrah Al Tunaiji, the provisions were procured by Abdul Malek Mohammad Ahmad Al Makhnaqi, 40, Abdullah Mohammad Ahmad Attiyah, 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.

Prosecutors demanded that the accused be punished with life imprisonment or imprisonment of 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. The court also set February 14 as the date to issue a verdict in a case involving a Gulf blogger charged with insulting leaders of the UAE and spreading rumours on social media to defame the country.

The blogger repeatedly claimed he was mentally unstable and asked that he be examined. However, two medical reports issued by two hospitals proved the man was responsible for his actions.

In another case, four men, three Libyans and an American, stood trial for funding terrorist groups in Libya and providing them with vehicles, wireless devices, night vision binoculars and bulletproof shields. The men claimed their confessions were taken under duress.

Espionage

A Pakistani woman working in a telecommunication company in the UAE also appeared in court for misusing her position to pass on private information of subscribers to agents in the Indian and Pakistani embassies in Abu Dhabi.

A.K, 33, from Pakistan, is on trial for giving out confidential information to foreign agents. The defendant denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty. The case was adjourned to February 8.

Another defendant charged with promoting Daesh’s terrorist ideology had the court hear his medical report, which showed that he suffered psychological anxieties but he was responsible for his actions.