ROYG APPEAL ON AL-MOAYED CASE

S E C R E T SANAA 001441

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2013
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR TERFIN
SUBJECT: ROYG APPEAL ON AL-MOAYED CASE

REF: A. SECSTATE 175378 B. SANAA 1411

Classified By: CDA ALAN G. MISENHEIMER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B)AND (D)

1.(S) On 6/21, Polecon Chief delivered reftel response to
President Saleh's request for special consideration in the
extradition case of Mohammed al-Moayed to the Foreign
Minister's Office Director, Marwan Noman. Noman promised to
forward the response immediately to Foreign Minister
al-Qirbi, who is traveling with President Saleh's party in
Germany. (The Charge also gave the response directly by
telephone to Saleh's advisor, Mohammed Sudam, in Germany.
Septel.)


2. (S) Noman repeated many of the points raised by FM
al-Qirbi in his 6/18 conversation with Charge (Ref B).
- President Salih faces great pressure to save al-Moayed
from extradition to the U.S.
- The pressure increased after media reports on the alleged
poor state of Al-Moayed's health and the isolation in which
he is confined by German authorities.
- Many people fear that his treatment would be even worse in
the United States.
- In these circumstances, President Saleh must do his best
for a deserving Yemeni citizen; people will be watching and
judging his efforts.
- Therefore, Saleh authorized official funds for al-Moayed's
defense, is personnally appealing to the U.S. for a political
solution, and has scheduled meetings in Germany with top
officials to press the case.


3. (C) Noman concluded with comments he described as purely
personal: The al-Moayed case would bring "trouble no one
needs". The U.S. should have brought its charges directly to
Yemeni authorities, rather than giving the perception that
al-Moayad had been "kidnapped" in Germany. Finally, as a
lawyer himself, he thought the case was "very weak" because
it relied on a paid informer. PolEcon chief reminded Noman
that al-Moayed and his associate, Mohammed Mohsen Yahya, are
answering the charges against them in a fair, impartial
German court. If extradition is granted, they will have every
opportunity to defend themselves in an equally fair American
court.


4. (C) Comment: The al-Moayed case is a difficult issue for
the ROYG because it demonstrates its lack of international
influence. Saleh's last minute involvement may have been an
effort to show his good intentions to al-Moayed's supporters,
but they will portray his failure to deliver al-Moayed as
weakness. End Comment.
MISENHEIMER