Challenge to zirconium case acquittals

DUBAI // Prosecutors yesterday asked the Dubai Misdemeanours Appeal Court to overturn the acquittals of AA, a Jordanian businessman, and SB, an Emirati lawyer, on charges of trying to sell nuclear-grade zirconium without permission from authorities. The defendants were cleared by the misdemeanours court in February. Both re-entered pleas of not guilty yesterday while the prosecution asked the court to call two witnesses so they could be cross-examined again.

The case has been adjourned until May 7 to allow time for the witnesses to be summoned. The sale of zirconium, a substance used in nuclear reactors, is controlled by an international treaty which forbids the importing of equipment, substances or machines used in manufacturing explosives. SB was charged with acting as a go-between in the sale of 240 kilograms of the material. Speaking after the not guilty verdict in February, SB's lawyer, Saeed al Ghailani, said the testimony of a nuclear expert who suggested the zirconium was not nuclear-grade had swayed the case in his client's favour.

The prosecution yesterday announced its intention to again cross-examine the nuclear expert before the appeal court. [e-mail]