Courtroom histrionics in Kuwait...
Attorney Nawaf Sari Al-Mutairi who is defending Abdullah Al-Refaei, one of the eight men accused in the illegal arms and ammunition case says, ‘Kuwait has become an ally of the United States outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).’
| That, of course, is a Bad Thing... |
The statements were made during the Appeals Court session, Wednesday, presided by Judge Abdul Aziz Al-Fahad. The seven other men involved in the case are Khalifa Hilal Al-Dihani, Dawood Al-Hamoud, Yousef Al-Hamoud, Talal Othman Al-Zamel, Edbais Mutlaq Al-Azmi, Bader Meharib Al-Deeri and Naser Al-Edwani. The lawyer told the court these men are being tried in court for being good Muslims who had volunteered to help the needy in Muslim countries.
[Knock knock!]
"Hi! I'm a good Muslim, here to help you from Kuwait! Where'd you like this load of C4?" |
‘These men should not be held behind bars in dark cells,’ said the lawyer. ‘We are suffering from political pressure because of what is called ‘terrorism’,’ added Mutairi.
| "Just 'cuz we kill people, and maim people, and conspire to kill people, that's no reason to toss us in jug!" |
Al-Mutairi also told the court the State Security officer who had been summoned to give his testimony failed to turn up in court because he has nothing to tell the court in support of his false report. The State Security Department has become strong and dangerous. ‘I’m here to defend not these men, but their parents and children who are suffering from the absence of these innocent men,’ said the lawyer.
"Hey, dammit! You're here to defend us! It ain't Maw and Paw and the kiddies they're gonna jug!"
"Shuddup. I'm workin' the sympathy angle here!" |
Lawyer Usama Al-Munawer, who is defending Khalifa Al-Dihani, told the court the entire case is based on confessions of Al-Refaei and from the beginning of the interrogation he has denied any relationship between Al-Refaei and his client.
| "Nope. Don't even know 'im. Them photos 're obviously doctored!" |
However, five days later, Dihani gave a detailed information about how he bought arms from Al-Refaei. ‘The scar on his face at that time told us why he had confessed to committing the crime,’ said Munawer. There is no evidence to convict any of these men, except their confessions which were made under duress, said the lawyer.
| That, and the arms and ammunition that were confiscated... |
Another lawyer for Al-Refaei, Attorney Mohamed Taleb said the arresting officer’s investigations were not serious. He added the officer who compiled the report is not the same who conducted the investigations and as a result this process is illegal. Attorney Taleb added the arresting officer mentioned in his report the suspects are members of an organisation which calls for Jihad against the Americans in the Arabian Peninsula, however, he did not give the source of this information or evidence to back his claim.
| "I mean, were they carrying membership cards or something? I ask you, y'r honor!" |
Attorney Bassam Al-Asousi, lawyer for Dawood and Yousef, said no arms were found in the possession of the suspects. He added no criminal intent could be proved against any of the accused.
| "That's right, y'r honor! The witnesses are all dead!" |
Lawyer Bader Al-Bader told the court one of the accused had denied any relationship with his client, and the court was informed about this issue during an earlier session, but later his client was compelled to admit to the relationship with Nasser Al-Edwani. On June 24, 2003, the Criminal Court fined Khalifa KD 7,000, Abdullah KD 10,000, Dawood, Yousef, Talal and Edbais KD 2,000. However, Bader and Naser were fined KD 1,000 each. The court had also ordered to confiscate the seized weapons.
| "So, y'see, y'r honor? No weapons in their possession! Why, they even got a receipt, so you know they ain't got 'em!" |
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