Sana'a: The Specialized Criminal Division in the Capital Secretariat has commenced its first hearings in the trial of individuals convicted of espionage, accused of collaborating with U.S., Israeli, and Saudi intelligence services.
According to Yemen News Agency, the session was chaired by Judge Abdullah Al-Nijjar, alongside Judges Hussein Al-Eizi and Mohammed Mufleh, with Public Prosecutor Abdullah Zahrah and prosecutor Abdullah Al-Jawlahi in attendance. The court reviewed the case summaries and previous rulings, while the convicts and their defense were granted access to case files, enabling them to prepare appeal briefs for the next session.
The initial rulings issued on November 22 sentenced several individuals to death by firing squad, including Bashir Ali Mahdi and Khaled Qassem Abdullah, among others. Convictions were also handed down to Huda Ali Saleh and Abdullah Abdullah Nasher, with each receiving a ten-year prison sentence. Further death sentences were pronounced publicly for additional defendants, while Ali Ali Daghsher Mutaher was acquitted.
The prosecution charged the convicts with espionage and collaboration with foreign nations-Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States-during 2024-2025. They allegedly provided sensitive political, military, and security information, including missile data, and engaged in activities such as recruiting citizens and installing surveillance equipment. These actions reportedly resulted in the targeting of key sites, leading to numerous casualties and significant infrastructure damage.