RIYADH , 28 April — The lawyer of five Britons held in Saudi Arabia in connection with a series of bomb blasts has denied newspaper reports that they had been sentenced to death.
“No final judgement has been issued until now in the cases of the five Britons who have been held for blasts in Riyadh and Alkhobar in 2000,” Ahmad Othman Al-Tuwaijeri, lawyer representing the Britons told Arab News.
“The defense lawyers are still continuing interviews with the suspects and studying the related documents,” Al-Tuwaijeri added.
The lawyer warned that “premature talk of punishment may undermine the interest of our clients.”
The British Embassy said they have not been notified by the Saudi authorities about any trial or sentences.
British newspapers reported yesterday that a Briton and a Canadian had been sentenced to death, while four other British men and a Belgian had been given sentences of up to 18 years in jail.
The embassies of Canada and Belgium in Riyadh declined to comment on the reports.
Saleh Al-Hujailan, a fellow lawyer of Al-Tuwaijeri said in a statement to AFP that he and Al-Tuwaijeri “met extensively” on Monday with the chief justice of Saudi Arabia. The meeting was also attended by the public prosecutor.
“We would like at this point to say that we have agreed with the Supreme (Judicial) Council to submit our written and verbal advocacy in the very near future, and we will be given all reasonable opportunities to review and defend our clients’ position,” the statement said.
