Yemeni nationals spying for Israel put to trial

The Yemeni nationals who were caught spying for Israel were found with forged government documents, identity cards, drivers’ licenses and logos belonging to the Islamic Jihad Organization.

The Division of Criminal Appeal, especialized in state security affairs and terrorism in Yemen, have decided to commission two experts from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to examine the contents of the defendants’ emails, in the case of the three Yemenis spying for Israel. The findings will be reported in court hearings next Saturday.

The specialized court, headed by Judge Mohammed al-Hakimi, decided to recruit translators from the military institute to interpret the letters, which defendant Bassam Abdullah al-Haidari received, from Hebrew into Arabic. The primary court sentenced al-Haidari to death on March 23, 2009. Defendant Emad Saeed al-Raimi was sentenced to three years, while Abdullah Mahfal was given five years.

Al-Haidari has been charged with treason, for contactig former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his wife through e-mails, claiming to be from the of Islamic Jihad Organization. “We are Islamic Jihadists and though you are Jews, you are truthful, and Arab rulers are liars. So we are ready to do any work you can suggest,” read one of al-Haidri’s letters. “We have no objection with cooperating with you in order to be a stumbling block to Arab rulers in the Middle East,” a reply from Olmert office stated. Al-Haidari and al-Raimi are accused of forging documents claiming a non-exist company through which they rented a car and illegally sold it. Al-Haidari and Mahfal also stand accused of producing forged government documents, identity cards, drivers’ licenses and logos belonging to the Islamic Jihad Organization.

The prosecution has produced evidence suggesting the men additionally threatened a special officer, Esam Dowaid, asking for money, as well as committed acts of blackmail against the embassies of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Britain, gaining over $5 million in the process. The men threatened the embassies with acts of violence toward the facilities and the employees.

It is also notable that the defendants publicized false news under the banner of the Islamic Jihad Organization.

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