Jordan Times
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Trial opens for 4 accused of plotting attacks
AMMAN — Three men, standing trial at the State
Security Court for plotting attacks against Israeli and American targets in
Jordan, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the charges during their opening
trial.
Mohammad Hassan, Mohammad Qassim, and Fursan Hassan, are also standing trial on
charges of illegal possession of a machinegun.
A fourth defendant, Musa Emoush, is also being tried in absentia on the same
charges.
The prosecution charged that the four men decided to form a “fighting cell” to
attack American and Jewish targets in the Kingdom, but were arrested in December
2003 before committing any of their planned acts.
Presiding Judge Fawwaz Bqour adjourned the session until April 4 to start
hearing the prosecution witnesses in the case, a judicial source told The Jordan
Times.
Also Wednesday, the same tribunal postponed the case of five men standing trial
for assassinating a US diplomat in Jordan in October 2002.
The court was expected to issue its verdict in the case on Wednesday, but a
judicial source told The Jordan Times that the tribunal was still examining the
case.
“The court is expected to issue its verdict within the next two weeks,” the
source said.
In a second high-profile case, the same tribunal set March 29 as the new date to
resume the case of Ahmad Riyati, a Jordanian accused of belonging to Al Qaeda
network and plotting subversive acts in the Kingdom.
The tribunal postponed the case to allow the prosecution more time to prepare
its closing arguments, the judicial source said.
Fourteen other men, all being tried in absentia, are standing trial on the same
charges and for belonging to the illegal Ansar Al Islam group that plotted to
attack local and US targets in the Kingdom.