Dubai: Two convicts involved in the assassination of Chechen leader Sulim Yamadayev had their life sentences reduced to a three-year imprisonment after submitting a waiver from the blood parents.
The Dubai Appeal Court yesterday reduced the life imprisonment to three years in jail against the two convicts, an Iranian clerk, M.T., and a Tajik businessman, M.K., for their involvement in the murder of Yamadayev, who was assassinated in the parking lot of the building where he stayed in Jumeirah Beach Residence in March 2009.
"The jury has overturned the primary sentence [a life sentence] and ruled that the convicts will spend three years in jail followed by deportation," said Presiding Judge Mustafa Al Shennawi upon pronouncing the judgment in Courtroom 20.
Responding to a Gulf News question, Presiding Judge Al Shennawi explained: "Their involvement in the crime is evident. The court has definite evidence about that. However based on the Federal Penal Code we have granted the convicts leniency and reduced the sentence after they submitted a written waiver from the blood parents."
Advocate Abdullah Al Madani, M.T.'s lawyer, submitted to court the waiver obtained from Eisa Yamadayev, Sulim's brother who signed on behalf of the deceased's blood parents and successors.
The waiver clearly mentioned that the Yamadayevs' dropped their civil and criminal rights against any defendant, who was or will be proven to be involved in the case.
Al Madani defended before the Appeal Court: "The assassination of Chechen leader Sulim Yamadayev, which attracted massive local and international media attention, is a crystal-clear political murder.
The real killers escaped from Dubai after the assassination… M.T., and M.K. are scapegoats. In its verdict sheet, the Court of First Instance mentioned in five pages that the murder happened due to political motives. Had Yamadayev been a Russian intelligence agent or a Chechen ‘mujahid', the primary court should not have considered the political motives behind the murder… the defendants were baselessly and unfoundedly linked to the murder."
Advocate Al Madani also countered the prosecutors' allegation that his client used his own car to drive the shooters and monitored the victim from the airport to his residence. He submitted a certification issued from Dubai Police's traffic department confirming that M.T. does not have a driving licence.
The Dubai Court of First Instance had earlier given M.T. and M.K. life sentences for their role in Yamadayev's assassination. They were to be deported after serving their terms.
Yesterday's judgment remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 30 days.
