FBI Wanted Jabr Al-Bana Leaves Court a Free Man

In its first session, looking into the case of 36 Al-Qaeda elements named as ‘Al-Qaeda Cell in Arab Peninsula–Yemen), the court board were surprised when a person stood up, introduced himself as Jabr Al-Bana and submitted his identity card to them.”I have not committed any act; neither in this country nor in America. I was sentenced to 10 years in prison for doing no offence. This is not fair,” he said. 

He added that he escaped the Political Security prison and willingly turned himself in to President Saleh.

Further, the court ordered allowing Jabr Al-Bana access to the first-instance ruling documents. By the end of the session, Al-Bana left the court without being intercepted by any one. He also declined to answer pressmen’s questions.

Before his escape from the PS, Al-Bana was convicted of having links to Al-Qaeda Organization and the court ruling ordered imprisoning him for ten years.

In a session headed by Judge Mohammed Hussein Al-Hakimi held on Saturday, Al-Bana told the court he was wronged with the first-instance ruling and stressed he is not connected with Al-Qaeda.

Meanwhile, the Appeal Court adjourned looking into Safer and Al-Dhabah facilities' attackers until next March.

After reviewing the indictments and confessions of the convict as well as the first-instance ruling against them issued in Nov. 7, 2007 sentencing them to terms ranging from two to five years, prosecution representative Saeed Al-Aqel demanded tougher rulings against the 19 members of the cell and noted the issued primary ruling does not come to the level of crimes attributed to them.

Al-Aqel also hinted that the cell members participated in preparations for terrorist attacks on oil facilities in Mareb's Safer and Hadramout's Al-Dhabah late in September 2006.

At the session's end, the court submitted the indictment of prosecution to the contesters to be challenged in the next session due to be held on Sunday, March 9. It also ordered the coercive attendance of Jameel Al-Haimi to challenge's Al-Hussami's appeal.

Other convicts in case No. 36 are Nasser Al-Wahashi, a PS escapee and the current leader of Al-Qaeda Organization in Yemen, Qasim Al-Raymi and Ibrahim Huidi who were sentenced for 15 years in prison. 

As for Limburg case, Hamza Al-Qua'iti was sentenced to 12 years, while Jabr Al-Bana and Mohammed Al-Umdah were sentenced to 10 years and they surrendered to police under mediation efforts and official promises to abate the ruling against them.

Secret Deal

The trial is timed with media outlets speaking of a secret deal between the official authorities represented in the National Security and Al-Qaeda Organization by which the latter pledge to give up terrorist operations in return for stopping the hunt of Al-Qaeda leaders and affiliates including Ibrhaim Huidi and allowing him to return back to his homeland in Hodeidah.