Sana'a: The Specialized Criminal Court in the capital Sana'a issued verdicts on Sunday convicting 23 defendants of aiding the enemy and forming an armed gang affiliated with al-Qaeda. The gang carried out bombings, destruction, looting, and killings targeting civilians, security personnel, the army, and members of the Popular Committees.
According to Yemen News Agency, the verdict, delivered in a session dedicated to its pronouncement, was presided over by Judge Yahya Abdulkarim al-Mansour, with the presence of Prosecutor Khalid Omar and Court Clerk Abdulmajid al-Dhafri. The court sentenced five defendants to death by way of punishment, Qisas (retribution), and Ta'zir (discretionary punishment), two were sentenced to death by way of punishment and Qisas, and 12 were sentenced to death by way of Ta'zir. Additionally, the verdict stipulated that two defendants be sentenced to ten years imprisonment, one to four years imprisonment, and another to two years imprisonment. The court also ruled that the criminal case against five of the defendants was dismissed due to their deaths.
In its ruling, the court explained that the defendants had participated in an armed group linked to the Saudi-American enemy forces. The Public Prosecution had charged 28 defendants with supporting the Saudi-Emirati aggression and its allies between 2015 and 2023 by joining camps belonging to the aggression forces in the Maris area of Dhale' governorate, specifically the so-called Al-Sadrain camp, and by being present in the Al-Mukha area.
The prosecution stated that the defendants had participated in an armed group linked to the Saudi-American enemy forces and the ISIS terrorist organization. They carried out operations targeting civilians, army personnel, and members of the Popular Committees, including attacks on security checkpoints and government buildings, ambushes using weapons and explosive devices, kidnappings, armed robberies, and looting, which led to the destabilization of security and stability in the Juban district of Al-Dhale'.
According to the indictment, the defendants received direct support from terrorist leaders loyal to the aggression, and prepared locations for their residences and meetings in rugged, tribal areas supportive of the aggression, including the Bani Dhubyan and Al-Masna'a valleys near the occupied Maris region. They used these locations as hideouts after carrying out their criminal activities. The prosecution confirmed that the defendants recruited a number of men and women to monitor and track the movements of the army and popular committees. They devised plans to carry out their crimes and distributed roles among themselves, thereby committing a series of crimes that threatened public order and national security.