High Court of Appeal upholds terror convictions

Chief of Anti-Terror Crime Prosecution, Advocate-General Ahmed Al Hammadi, today confirmed that the High Court of Appeal had upheld an April 2015 verdict issued by the High Criminal Court regarding the sentencing of twelve terror suspects.

The defendants were tried for the murder of police officer Mahmood Fareed, attempted murder of other police officers, forming and joining a terrorist group, and acquiring and using explosives. They were also charged with committing identity fraud.

The High Court of Appeal upheld the life sentences given to seven defendants, the ten-year prison terms given to four defendants and the sentencing of one defendant to death, along with all defendants having their citizenship revoked.

According to case documents, the group planned, orchestrated and carried out the terror attacks after monitoring the movements of police vehicles and planting live Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in an area regularly patrolled by security forces. The suspects aimed to cause the maximum number of casualties and remotely detonated the explosive device upon officer Mahmood Fareed’s arrival at the scene. Officer Fareed died from his wounds.

The Public Prosecution’s case against the individuals included forensic evidence gathered from the crime scene, testimony from crime scene experts, witness testimonies, and suspect confessions.

Supporting forensic evidence from the crime scene confirmed that the homemade IED contained a lethal mixture of gunpowder and shrapnel designed to cause the maximum number of casualties.

The Public Prosecution also provided medical evidence from the victim autoposy which revealed the cause of death was a direct result of the IED used in the terror attack.