Jordan Times
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Retrial of millenniun plot defendants begins
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — Eleven men, part of a group of 28 defendants allegedly affiliated to Al Qaeda network who were convicted in 2000 of conspiring to bomb tourist sites and attack US and Israeli targets in Jordan, on Wednesday appeared at the State Security Court for a retrial.The men were convicted by the State Security Court of possession of explosive devices and weapons, and conspiring to carry out bombings during New Year celebrations in Jordan and attacking Christian religious sites.
Six defendants received death sentences in 2000. Sixteen of the other defendants, including eight who were tried in absentia, received prison terms ranging from seven-and-a-half years to life imprisonment on similar charges. Six others were acquitted of all charges.
The Cassation Court had overturned their verdict four months ago, sending the case back to the State Security Court for a retrial. The higher court's argument was that some of the defendants' convictions should have been included in a 1999 Royal amnesty.
During the 30-minute court session, four of the six attorneys representing the defendants asked the court for time to prepare statements to respond to the Cassation Court's recent ruling.
Two other attorneys, Hussein Masri and Mohammad Muhiar, asked the court to uphold the Court of Cassation's ruling with regard to their clients. The prosecution had accused the group of belonging to Al Qaeda group, with links to Saudi dissident Osama Ben Laden.
The tribunal adjourned the session until Feb. 11 to resume the case.