Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANAA448
2006-02-22 14:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
TERROR TRIALS UPDATE: DEFENDANTS RELEASED AND
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000448
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: TERROR TRIALS UPDATE: DEFENDANTS RELEASED AND
RUMORS UNCONFIRMED
REF: A. SANAA 2535
B. SANAA 272
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000448
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: TERROR TRIALS UPDATE: DEFENDANTS RELEASED AND
RUMORS UNCONFIRMED
REF: A. SANAA 2535
B. SANAA 272
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On February 21, the Yemeni daily "al-Shura" reported
that the Sanaa Special Penal Court ordered the release of
Abdel Rauf Nassib, who had been tried and acquitted in 2004
of charges that he forged official documents for the USS Cole
attackers (ref. A). Foreign press reports also stated that
the Special Penal Court released Hadi Mohammed Saleh
al-Waeli, who had reportedly been convicted of selling arms
and ammunition without a license to USS Cole attackers.
2. (C) Poloff contacted Mohammed al-Qadi, who reported on the
Cole trial for the English language daily Yemen Times. He
noted that Nassib was acquitted in the original USS Cole
trial (Ref. A) but had remained in custody nonetheless.
Al-Qadi said that he heard that al-Waeli -- previously
unknown to post -- was released because he had "completed his
sentence." Qadi could not confirm a rumor that 11 additional
unidentified al-Qaida detainees were also released. No other
contacts could confirm the rumor.
3. (U) On February 22, the Sanaa Special Penal Court held a
preliminary hearing for 17 defendants accused of fighting in
Iraq and planning to attack US interests in Yemen. According
to Qadi, the defendants all plead not guilty, alleging that
the Political Security Office (PSO) had fabricated the
accusations. Their names are currently unavailable.
4. (C) Comment: At this time there is no further information
available on the above-mentioned cases. Since the February 3
breakout of 23 al-Qaida prisoners (ref. B),working level law
enforcement and prosecutorial contacts have been nervous
about releasing information without direct instructions from
their superiors. Post will inquire further at higher levels
on all the cases and keep Department informed, as details
become known. End Comment.
Krajeski
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: TERROR TRIALS UPDATE: DEFENDANTS RELEASED AND
RUMORS UNCONFIRMED
REF: A. SANAA 2535
B. SANAA 272
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On February 21, the Yemeni daily "al-Shura" reported
that the Sanaa Special Penal Court ordered the release of
Abdel Rauf Nassib, who had been tried and acquitted in 2004
of charges that he forged official documents for the USS Cole
attackers (ref. A). Foreign press reports also stated that
the Special Penal Court released Hadi Mohammed Saleh
al-Waeli, who had reportedly been convicted of selling arms
and ammunition without a license to USS Cole attackers.
2. (C) Poloff contacted Mohammed al-Qadi, who reported on the
Cole trial for the English language daily Yemen Times. He
noted that Nassib was acquitted in the original USS Cole
trial (Ref. A) but had remained in custody nonetheless.
Al-Qadi said that he heard that al-Waeli -- previously
unknown to post -- was released because he had "completed his
sentence." Qadi could not confirm a rumor that 11 additional
unidentified al-Qaida detainees were also released. No other
contacts could confirm the rumor.
3. (U) On February 22, the Sanaa Special Penal Court held a
preliminary hearing for 17 defendants accused of fighting in
Iraq and planning to attack US interests in Yemen. According
to Qadi, the defendants all plead not guilty, alleging that
the Political Security Office (PSO) had fabricated the
accusations. Their names are currently unavailable.
4. (C) Comment: At this time there is no further information
available on the above-mentioned cases. Since the February 3
breakout of 23 al-Qaida prisoners (ref. B),working level law
enforcement and prosecutorial contacts have been nervous
about releasing information without direct instructions from
their superiors. Post will inquire further at higher levels
on all the cases and keep Department informed, as details
become known. End Comment.
Krajeski