Speaking to Arab News after Monday’s session at a special criminal court in Riyadh, the source said another defendant’s lawyer apologized on behalf of his client who had threatened to take revenge against the state and security officers after his release from prison.
“My client had made that statement because of his poor mental condition influenced by black magic,” the lawyer told the court. Defendant Nos. 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 appeared in the court on Monday.
The defendants were accused of bombing three residential compounds in Riyadh in May 2003, which killed and injured 239 people including women and children.
They also allegedly plotted to attack military bases and oil installations in the Kingdom.
The lawyer of Defendant No. 6 denied the charges against his client, saying his client had surrendered to security authorities through his brother. He said the accused took part in a military training course in Thumama with other militants due to his friendship with them.
“They had gone there for recreation and not for plotting any terrorist act,” the lawyer said.
He said the client forged travel documents in order to facilitate his arrival in the Kingdom to surrender himself to Saudi authorities. He said the defendant collected donations not to fund terrorism but to support his Muslim brethren in Afghanistan.
Defendant No. 9’s lawyer also refuted all allegations against his client, adding that the accused went to Thumama for recreation and did not know anybody in Riyadh.
“He did not know most people who were present in Thumama (and allegedly involved in the attack) as well as those who attended the dinner in a flat (to plan the operation),” the lawyer said. He added that his client had not opened fire against security officers.
The lawyer of Defendant No. 11 denied his client’s association with Al-Qaeda, adding that his link with one of the terrorists was simply blood relationship. He said the presence of the client’s wife and children in the car was not to cover his back as he transported weapons, adding that the weapons were brought for his relative and not for any terrorist activity.
The lawyer of Defendant No. 14 apologized to the court for his client’s threat that he would take revenge against the state and security officers, saying he made those statements under the influence of black magic. He also apologized to the rulers and security men. He said his client opened fire against security officers to defend himself and not to kill anybody.
He did not know those who stormed the flat were security officers. He said he had collected donations for orphans and not for terrorists.
He agreed that his client had obtained some weapons but disputed the quantity mentioned by the prosecutor, adding that the weapons were collected not to carry out any terrorist attack.
The court gave time for Defendant Nos. 8, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 to reply to the charges made against them.
