Six face state security charges

Five Emiratis and a man without ID papers have been referred to the Federal Supreme Court over charges including acts that pose threat to state security, opposing the government system, and insulting the President, the Vice President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Six men have been referred to the Federal Supreme Court over charges including perpetrating acts that pose threats to state security, undermining the public order, opposing the government system, and insulting the president, the vice president and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the UAE Attorney, General Salim Saeed Kubaish, said yesterday.

The six were named as Ahmed Mansour Ali Abdullah Al Abd Al Shehi, Nasser Ahmed Khalfan bin Gaith, Fahad Salim Mohammed Salim Dalk, Hassan Ali Al Khamis, all Emiratis, and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq Ahmed, who does not carry identification papers, were said.

General Kubaish said the crimes are punishable by the Federal Penal Code and the Federal Law on Combating Cyber Crimes.

He said the six were detained after evidence against them was established by investigations. The Public Prosecution had interrogated them and found them committing these crimes, General Kubaish said.

The suspects face, if convicted, prison terms between one month and up to five years.

If the criminal district of the apex court sentenced them, the pronounced punishment term would be suspended in regards to the severity of the crime, the circumstances surrounding them and the consequences thereof.

The Attorney General said that the court of a bench of three judges is following procedures stated by the criminal procedures law and the number of hearings will mainly depend on requests submitted by lawyers of suspects and their defence statements.

''The sentence that the Federal Supreme Court will hand out is final and irrevocable and binding to all parties under the UAE Constitution,' he said, saying that the Public Prosecution enforces the court sentences whether of conviction or innocence.

''The competent authority in the State protect both citizens and residents on its soil according to the law,'' the Attorney General concluded.