Gulf | Yemen

16 on trial in Yemen for money laundering, drug trading

A Yemeni special court on Tuesday began the trial of 16 men, including two Kuwaitis, on charges of drug trading and money laundering.

  • By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
  • Published: 00:03 June 11, 2008
  • Gulf News

Sana'a: A Yemeni special court on Tuesday began the trial of 16 men, including two Kuwaitis, on charges of drug trading and money laundering.

The two Kuwaiti defendants have been identified as Al Humaidi Hammad Sadi Al Ajel and Adan Hammad Sadi Al Ajel.

Al Humaidi Al Ajel, a former Kuwaiti army officer, appeared in court with 13 others. The second Kuwaiti and a Yemeni are being tried in absentia.

The prosecutor said the men were arrested earlier this year in Yemen with 1,106kg of Hashish in their possession, in addition to forged Saudi Riyals worth 789,700 and 7 CDs containing pornographic movies.

The prosecutor accused the men of importing a large quantity of drugs with the purpose of selling it in the country.

They were also accused of laundering the money obtained from the drug deals by engaging in commercial and contracting projects.

However, the defendants denied the charges before the State Security Court, chaired by Judge Mohsen Alwan. Only one of them confessed to the accusations.

The court adjourned the case to June 16.

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