JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s specialized criminal court has convicted 330 Al-Qaeda militants for their involvement in terrorist operations throughout the country; the militants were involved in 179 cases. The court also acquitted some of the accused of the charges against them.

“The verdicts issued by the court against the detainees involved in terror crimes included 330 suspects in 179 cases,” said Abdullah Al-Saadan, spokesman for the Justice Ministry. He said the militants could appeal against the sentences that include capital punishment.

Speaking to Saudi Arabian TV’s Channel One, Al-Saadan said the preliminary verdicts issued by the court ranged from jail sentences for different terms to capital punishment.

“The sentences also include financial punishment, a ban on traveling abroad and house arrest in a city selected by the criminal. Some sentences specify the time for implementing them,” he explained.

The spokesman said the convicts could appeal against the sentences as in other court cases. “The accused will have the right to defend himself by appointing a lawyer,” he said, adding that the special criminal court had informed the militants about this facility before the trials began.

“Arrangements are being made to help the media follow and cover the trials,” he said. According to a previous official statement, as many as 991 terror suspects were facing trial.

A spokesman for the Commission for Investigation and Public Prosecution said the charges against the militants who were involved in a series of terrorist attacks throughout the Kingdom beginning in 2003 included affiliation to Al-Qaeda’s terrorist network, participation in its activities and contacts with foreign parties attempting to undermine the country’s security. Other charges included supporting and financing terrorism, rebelling against the ruler and going to regions of tension for fighting.

The spokesman said the charges were made in accordance with Article 126 of criminal procedures, adding that the legal proceedings included evidence of terrorist acts committed by each suspect. The prosecution asked the court to impose sentences which the militants deserved. The spokesman said the militants would be allowed to appeal. “The prosecution will continue procedures for the trial of the remaining suspects at the court,” he added.

Second Deptuy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif announced earlier that the trial of 991 suspected Al-Qaeda militants would start shortly after filing charges against them. He also pointed out that 164 people had died in terrorist attacks since 2003.

“In the past few years, Saudi Arabia has been the target of an organized terrorist campaign linked to a network of strife and sedition,” Prince Naif said in a previous statement, referring to Al-Qaeda-instigated terrorist operations in different parts of the country.

Militants have been responsible for more than 30 attacks in the Kingdom since May 2003. Ninety civilians and 74 members of the security forces have been killed, while 439 civilians and 657 members of the security forces have been injured, the prince said.

The interior minister said Saudi security forces were instrumental in preventing 160 terrorist attacks. Several bomb blasts in Riyadh targeted vital government offices such as the Traffic Department building, the Ministry of Interior building and the headquarters of the special forces.

The quantity of weapons and explosives seized from militants exceeded three tons of RDX, C-4 and TNT as well as over 25 tons of highly explosive mixtures. About half a ton of explosive mixtures was used in the Al-Mahayya Compound blast in Riyadh in 2003.

Taufiq Al-Sudairy, undersecretary at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, said the Justice Ministry's statement on the terror trial reflected the transparency and flexibility of the Kingdom's judiciary.

Speaking to Arab News, Al-Sudairy said: “The transparent verdicts issued by the special criminal court is a good answer to those who create doubt about the fairness of the Kingdom's judiciary.”

He said the suspects have been given the right to defend themselves, appoint lawyers and appeal the sentences. "This again reflects the moderation of Saudi policies and the Kingdom's desire to ensure justice in all matters," he added. The verdicts also give a clear message to those who support the deviant group and other suspicious organizations that they will be dealt with firmly by the Kingdom's security and judicial authorities. “Once the verdicts are executed on the convicts it will be a big lesson to others,” he added.

Wahib Allami, a member of the committee that represents lawyers at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted the tremendous improvement in Saudi judicial system, saying it has given all the accused a high degree of transparency and justice.

Saudi security forces have defeated Al-Qaeda militants by launching an intensive campaign over the past few years.