Supreme Federal Court hears defines pleadings in Al Qaeda cell case

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The State Security Court of the Supreme Federal Court, presided over by Chief Justice Falah Al-Hajri, yesterday heard the pleadings of three of the lawyers defending the individuals accused of joining Al Qaeda, creating Al Qaeda branch cell and channelling funds to Al Nusra Front. The defines lawyers asked the court to acquit their clients of the said charges. The court, upon a request from the defines lawyer, discussed the doctor treating one of the defendants about the defendant's health condition and the medicine administered to him. Eight of the nine defendants appeared in court yesterday in the presence of some of their relatives, representatives of the media, members of U.A.E. civil society organisations and a representative of the Tunisian Embassy. Six defines lawyers, of whom one is delegated by the Ministry of Labour, also attended yesterday's session. Lawyer Zayed Saeed Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of U.A.E. Lawyers and Jurists Association, explained that Article Four of the Penal Code states that a lawyer shall be hired for the defendant who is proved to be financially unable to afford the fees and that the state shall pay his lawyer's fees. The court also decided to hold its next session on 16th June to complete hearing the pleadings of the rest of the defines lawyers. All of the nine defendants are Arabs and one of them remains at large. – Emirates News Agency, WAM