ABU DHABI // Four Libyan men previously on trial for terrorism charges were acquitted of all other charges against them by the Federal Supreme Court on Monday.
Salim Alaradi, 47, a Libyan-Canadian; Kamal Eldarat, 55, his son Mohammed, 34, who are both Libyan-Americans; and Libyan Essa Umran Al Manna, 66, were still facing charges of engaging in hostilities against a foreign country - Libya - and raising funds without approval until Monday.
They were previously charged with several other terrorism-related offences in January. They were accused of supporting and funding Islamist groups the Libyan Dawn Militia and the February 17th Martyrs Brigade.
In addition, they were accused of providing tools and assets that would have enabled the groups to achieve their terrorist goals and allegedly providing vehicles, telecommunication devices, night-vision goggles and bulletproof vests.
The previous terror charges were dropped in March and were amended to the lesser charges of raising funds without approval and engaging in hostilities against a foreign country.
Lawyers insisted that their clients had not broken any laws in Libya.
An affidavit from Mostafa Abdul Jalil, the former chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, was submitted stating that all men were innocent of any wrongdoing.
Lawyers also insisted that all the businesses their clients engaged in were transparent.
“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,” said Dr Fahad Al Sabhan, who was representing two of the four defendants.
The court agreed and they will all now walk free.
nalremeithi@thenational.ae
