A Yemeni court yesterday ordered a probe into claims by 14 terrorist suspects that they were tortured during their detention at an intelligence prison. Chief judge Ahmad Al-Jurmozi said he would lead a team to check out conditions of the accused in detention. The move was in response to repeated appeals by the defendants to be transferred from the prison of the Political Security Organization (intelligence) to a public prison. Some of the defendants said they were subjected to psychological pressure. Others said they were severely beaten by intelligence officers. Fawaz Yahya Al-Rabyee, 27, a main suspect wanted by US authorities over suspected links to the terror Al-Qaeda network, told the court he was interrogated by US officers in the intelligence prison. "We were investigated by Americans in our country. How could that be accepted," Al-Rabyee said.
| We're everywhere! We're all-powerful! Gawd, I love being sinister! |
During the 30-minute hearing, the suspects made faces, rolled their eyes, jumped up and down, shouted anti-US slogans and praised Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. The defendants continued their refusal to enter pleas during the hearing, the seventh since the trial began on May 29. |