Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Anti-terrorism officers
testify in chemical plotters case
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — Thirteen men standing trial at the State Security Court (SSC) for
plotting the first Al Qadea chemical attack in the Kingdom last year on Tuesday
read verses from the Holy Koran and chanted war songs during the session.
The defendants shouted, “Jihad is our only way and dying for God's sake is our
wish... the [Holy] Koran is our constitution.”
They also chanted in support of Abu Mussab Zarqawi saying, “We will fight with
our blood and souls for your sake Abu Mussab [Zarqawi], you are our great
leader... a hero of our religion.”
Jordanian fugitive Zarqawi, who has a $25 million US bounty on his head, is
being tried in absentia in this case along with three others. He was sentenced
to death by the SSC in a separate trial last year.
The defendants' actions were in protest against the tribunal's decision to keep
them handcuffed following an incident at last week's trial when Azmi Jaiousi
threw his slippers at the judges.
Lawyers Hatem Ghweiri, Mohammad Muhiar and Samih Khreis protested the court's
decision, charging that keeping their defendants handcuffed violated their basic
rights.
Presiding Judge Fawaz Bqour responded by ordering the court guards to release
the handcuffs.
The group is accused of possessing and manufacturing explosives with illicit
intent, and possessing an automatic weapon with the intent to use it illegally.
During the two-hour court session, First Lieutenant Salem Mohammad, 27, part of
the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) that stormed two houses on April 20, 2004,
testified that Jaiousi surrendered easily during a raid on his home.
“Bullets were fired at us from Jaiousi's house in Marka, and we responded and
killed one person [Haitham Abul Kheir]. Then Jaiousi came out of his room
telling us not to hurt his wife and three children,” Mohammad told the court.
Upon searching the house, Mohammad continued, security forces found several
machineguns, guns with silencers and some explosive substances placed in an
icebox.
The second operation involved a house in Hashemi Shamali where three other
suspects were hiding, Mohammad added.
He said the authorities exchanged fire with the suspects and he was injured in
the operation along with two other colleagues. The three wanted suspects died in
the shootout, the witness added.
Another ATF agent who participated in the April 10 raids, First Lieutenant Atef
Shaher, 29, said he rushed Abul Kheir to a nearby ambulance then returned to
Jaiousi's house to interrogate him with other security officers.
“Jaiousi informed us of a house in Marka where three of his group were staying
and also led us to one of the defendants, Ahmad Samir, who was arrested in the
downtown area the same day,” Shaher said.
A third prosecution witness to take the stand was Major Mohammad Amin, 43, from
the Irbid police who was ordered to raid a warehouse in the Huwara area on April
10, 2004.
Amin said he found two cars in the warehouse and when he checked their licence
plates he discovered that they were wanted in connection with the case.
The group is also charged with belonging to an illegal organisation, Kataeb Al
Tawhid (Battalions of Monotheism), which is believed to be linked to Al Qaeda,
sheltering a wanted person and possessing unlicensed guns.
Jaiousi recruited the defendants after meeting Zarqawi in Afghanistan in 1999,
and they plotted to target the General Intelligence Department, the Prime
Ministry and the American embassy in Amman, according to the charge sheet.
The group decided to use cars laden with chemicals and explosives, but the
authorities foiled their plans last year, the charge sheet added.
The tribunal adjourned the trial until the end of the month to continue hearing
more prosecution witnesses.