Gulf | Yemen
Security court begins trial of three Yemenis on charges of spying for Iran
Three Yemenis were put on trial before the State Security Court on Sunday on charges of spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 23:29 October 11, 2008
Sana'a: Three Yemenis were put on trial before the State Security Court on Sunday on charges of spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Journalists and photographers were banned from attending the court proceedings on the request of the defendants who were identified as Abdul Kareem Ali Abdul Kareem Lalji, 33, Hani Ahmad Dain Mohammad 31, and Eskandar Abdullah Yousuf Abdu, 57.
"The accused asked the court not to allow media attend the sessions to preserve their reputation and their families'," the chairman of the court, Judge Muhsen Alwan, told reporters who were allowed to enter the court room at the end of the session and after the three defendants were taken back to their custody.
Six months ago
Defence lawyer Shatha Nasser said the charges were read by the prosecutor confirming spying for Iran.
She did not elaborate.
"I promise to give you more details as soon as I finish reading all the documents of the case," she told reporters at the gate of the heavy security building of the special court.
Nasser said the three men were arrested six months ago in the southern city of Aden, from where they all hailed. She neither confirmed nor denied that the trial was of a political nature.
The state-run media said the three defendants were accused of spying for a foreign Islamic country. And that they handed over information, documents, and pictures about secrets of defence and security as well as about the political and economic situation, in a way that damaged the stature of Yemen.
The court adjourned the hearing to October 18.
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