Man on trial for ‘supporting Libyan terrorist groups’ is a philanthropist, witness says

A Libyan man is accused along with two compatriots of providing support to Islamist groups the Libyan Dawn Militia and the February 17th Martyrs Brigade in the form of millions of dirhams in cash, cars, night vision goggles and bulletproof vests.

ABU DHABI // A man on trial for having links to terrorist organisations in Libya was a philanthropist supporting his country after the conflict that toppled Muammar Qaddafi, a witness told the Federal Supreme Court.

Libyan E U, 66, was accused with compatriots S A, 47, and K D, 55, of providing support to Islamist groups the Libyan Dawn Militia and the February 17th Martyrs Brigade in the form of millions of dirhams in cash, cars, night-vision goggles and bulletproof vests. K D’s son, M D, 34, an American citizen, is also on trial.

But yesterday charges were amended to engaging in hostilities against a foreign country, Libya, and raising funds without approval.

M A Q, 49, an Emirati businessman, told the court that E U was his friend and a respected philanthropist who was trying to help his country after the war that toppled the dictator Qaddafi.

“He built a mosque in the UAE for Dh4 million. He donated Dh1 million to the Red Crescent Society,” said M A Q, who told the court that E U stopped sending aid to Libya in 2012.

“The last time he sent aid to Libya was in 2012. He told me that the country was being divided by so many groups that he didn’t want to be a part of,” said M A Q, who presented the court with a letter from the president of the National Transitional Council in Libya, which stated that what E U was doing was legal in the eyes of the Libyan Government.

Lawyers for the other defendants, who all denied the charges against them, asked to be included in E U’s defence.

“E U wired the money to S A who bought the cars and it would be great if we group the defence of all the defendants together,” said S A’s lawyer.

The judge agreed.

The case was adjourned to April 11.