ABU DHABI // Lawyers for the four Libyan men previously on trial for terrorism charges have challenged the lesser charges against them.
“My client is innocent and terrorism charges were dropped. The new charges are nothing but a ploy by the prosecution to convict my client,” said Dr Fahad Al Sabhan, who was representing two of the four defendants.
Last month, terrorism charges against Salim Alaradi, 47, a Libyan-Canadian, Kamal Eldarat, 55, his son Mohammad, 34, both Libyan-Americans, and Essa Umran Al Manna, 66, a Libyan, were dropped by the prosecution. Charges of supporting and funding terrorist organisations were amended to engaging in hostilities against a foreign country, Libya, and raising funds without approval.
“Raising funds without approval is a matter that deals with non-profit organisations and is a mistake if anything, but my clients have already spent over a year in prison” said Dr Al Sabhan, representing Kamal and Mohammad Eldarat.
Dr Al Sabhan also refuted claims that his clients had broken any Libyan laws.
“Mostafa Abdul Jalil, the former chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, couldn’t testify in court but we’ve submitted an affidavit from him stating that my clients are innocent of any wrongdoing,” Dr Al Sabhan said.
“If the Libyan government says that my clients are not criminals, who are we to lay those charges against them.
“My clients were investigated for terrorism and not the new charges at hand. This renders the whole process invalid, ” the lawyer said.
Lawyer Ali Al Mannaei, representing Mr Alaradi and the Eldarats, refuted claims that his clients supplied groups in a foreign country and raised money for foreign groups without the UAE’s approval.
“Everything my clients did was legal ... there are transparent business records that were submitted to the authorities. Dubai Customs had no issues with the process. They wouldn’t have allowed the process if there were any suspicion of any terrorist support or illegal funding,” he said.
Jasim Al Naqbi, the lawyer for Mr Al Manna, said that the defendants were heroes, doing their part to rebuild their country after the war that toppled Muammar Qaddafi.
Mr Al Naqbi repeated a witness statement to the court that Mr Al Manna was a respected philanthropist.
“He donated Dh4 million to help with the construction of a mosque after lack of funds threatened to halt construction,” Mr Al Naqbi said.
A verdict was scheduled for May 30.
nalremeithi@thenational.ae
SUE GRAY'S FINDINGS
"Whatever the initial intent, what took place at many of these gatherings and the
way in which they developed was not in line with Covid guidance at the time.
"Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen. It is also the case that some of the
more junior civil servants believed that their involvement in some of these events was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders.
"The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture.
"I found that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which they had felt concerned about but at times felt unable to raise properly.
"I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable."
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
MATCH INFO
Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded