The suspects disclosed their intention after receiving official copies of their sentence on Sunday. The verdict was originally issued by a special criminal court in Riyadh on Nov. 22. Those convicted included 14 Saudis, a Yemeni and a Syrian.
The public prosecutor in the case has also said he would appeal the verdict as he believed the punishment was very light, a source told Arab News.
Both parties have until Jan. 24 to file an appeal. If they do not file the appeal within one month from the date of the issue of the verdict, the sentences will be confirmed.
According to the verdict, Defendant No. 1, a doctor of family and social medicine will be jailed for 30 years besides paying a fine of SR2 million. The others received lighter sentences ranging between five to 22 years in prison. The two foreign nationals will be deported after they serve their sentences, while the Saudis will be denied their right to travel abroad for a specified period.
The suspects were accused of setting up a terror cell to plot and carry out attacks with the aim of destabilizing the Kingdom and seizing political power. They were also accused of possessing weapons and collecting funds for terrorist activities.
The 74-year-old Defendant No. 2, who served as a judge some time in the past and a former rights activist, was sentenced to 15 years. Defendant No. 3 was sentenced to 20 years in jail, No. 4 to 22 years and a SR1 million fine, No. 5 to 20 years. Defendant Nos. 6 to 9 were handed 10 years in prison, No. 10 got 25 years, No. 12 was given eight years, Nos. 13 and 14 were handed 10 years each, and No. 15 eight years. The Syrian, or Defendant No. 11, got 15 years and the Yemeni (Defendant No. 16) received five years.
Defendant No. 5, who had received a doctorate in Islamic jurisprudence from Umm Al-Qura University, is a former professor of jurisprudence at the Islamic University in Madinah.
