ABU DHABI // Defence witnesses scheduled to testify in the case of a man who is accused of passing secret information to a foreign country failed to turn up at the State Security Court on Monday.
A B, an Emirati sergeant with the Dubai Police, is accused of providing intelligence officers at the Iranian consulate with information about his colleagues.
In a previous hearing, a State Security investigator said A B had made contact with the intelligence officers after his manager, whose wife is Iranian, requested he help with the woman’s travel visa.
The officer said A B had asked for discount medical coverage from the Iranian Hospital in Dubai for the information.
Aref Al Shamsi, the lawyer representing him, requested the manager’s presence to testify.
However, Mr Al Shamsi said the manager, as well as two other colleagues, could not come to court because of the sensitivity of the case.
“These cases are sensitive and the witnesses work for the police. We request that the court send an official request to the police force and ask for the witnesses’ presence,” Mr Al Shamsi said. “The witnesses need a request from the court to be able to testify.”
Judge Falah Al Hajeri said the court could not force the witnesses to testify. However, he agreed to sending the requested letter.
A B also assigned an additional lawyer, Ali Al Mannaei, who requested to meet with the defendant after the hearing.
The judge approved the request and adjourned the case until January 26.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae