Sheikh Issa acquittal: Government ‘does not interfere’ in court matters
Marten Youssef, Courts and Justice Reporter
Last Updated: January 12. 2010 11:35PM UAE / January 12. 2010 7:35PM GMT The Government will not interfere in any court ruling, the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abudullah bin Zayed, said yesterday, two days after a court in Al Ain acquitted Sheikh Issa bin Zayed on charges of abusing an Afghan grain merchant because of “diminished liability”.
“The Government does not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary in general. Doing so defeats the purpose of having an independent judiciary,” Sheikh Abudullah said, stressing that he was not commenting on any specific case.
The case of Sheikh Issa has attracted international attention, with the US State Department on Monday calling for a review of the verdict. “We would welcome a careful review of the judge’s decision and an assessment of all available legal options to ensure that the demands of justice are fully met in this case, and we will continue to closely monitor it,” the State Department spokesman, P J Crowley, said on Monday.
Mr Crowley added: “I think ultimately this has to be something that is resolved inside of the United Arab Emirates for the benefit of all Emirati citizens. I think that there are still questions that have been raised by this case. I think it’s important those questions be resolved not so much to satisfy the United States, as to satisfy the citizens of the United Arab Emirates.”
Sheikh Issa was acquitted of three charges on Sunday after the court found that he had been drugged and therefore could not be held responsible for abusing the merchant. The incident, which occurred in Al Ain, was filmed and kept by the brothers Ghassan and Bassam Nabulsi, former business associates of the sheikh.
The Nabulsis were found guilty of drugging Sheikh Issa, filming a crime scene and blackmailing him with the tape. They were sentenced in absentia to five years in prison each. An international arrest warrant is expected to be issued for the Nabulsis. As of yesterday evening, Bassam and Ghassan Nabulsi were not placed on Interpol’s list of wanted fugitives.
Sheikh Issa acquittal: Government ‘does not interfere’ in court matters
Marten Youssef, Courts and Justice Reporter
Last Updated: January 12. 2010 11:35PM UAE / January 12. 2010 7:35PM GMT The Government will not interfere in any court ruling, the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abudullah bin Zayed, said yesterday, two days after a court in Al Ain acquitted Sheikh Issa bin Zayed on charges of abusing an Afghan grain merchant because of “diminished liability”.
“The Government does not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary in general. Doing so defeats the purpose of having an independent judiciary,” Sheikh Abudullah said, stressing that he was not commenting on any specific case.
The case of Sheikh Issa has attracted international attention, with the US State Department on Monday calling for a review of the verdict. “We would welcome a careful review of the judge’s decision and an assessment of all available legal options to ensure that the demands of justice are fully met in this case, and we will continue to closely monitor it,” the State Department spokesman, P J Crowley, said on Monday.
Mr Crowley added: “I think ultimately this has to be something that is resolved inside of the United Arab Emirates for the benefit of all Emirati citizens. I think that there are still questions that have been raised by this case. I think it’s important those questions be resolved not so much to satisfy the United States, as to satisfy the citizens of the United Arab Emirates.”
Sheikh Issa was acquitted of three charges on Sunday after the court found that he had been drugged and therefore could not be held responsible for abusing the merchant. The incident, which occurred in Al Ain, was filmed and kept by the brothers Ghassan and Bassam Nabulsi, former business associates of the sheikh.
The Nabulsis were found guilty of drugging Sheikh Issa, filming a crime scene and blackmailing him with the tape. They were sentenced in absentia to five years in prison each. An international arrest warrant is expected to be issued for the Nabulsis. As of yesterday evening, Bassam and Ghassan Nabulsi were not placed on Interpol’s list of wanted fugitives.