In a significant development, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal has sentenced eight individuals, including senior Sudanese officials, to life in prison for their roles in a large-scale arms trafficking operation. The court also ordered the confiscation of seized ammunition, mobile phones, and communication devices. The defendants were found guilty of smuggling weapons and ammunition into the UAE, with the intention of transporting them to Port Sudan.
The UAE's state news agency, WAM, reported that the convicted individuals included Yasser Atta, assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and former intelligence chief Salah Qosh. Other defendants included Osman Zubair, a senior financial official in the Sudanese army, and five others. The court found that the group had carried out two deals to supply military equipment to the Sudanese army through commercial companies and bank accounts in the UAE.
According to the court, the arms trafficking network involved the smuggling of ammunition, including "Ghrenov" type ammunition, into the UAE, with the intention of transporting it to Port Sudan. The defendants allegedly used fake documents and companies to facilitate the deals, which were worth millions of dirhams. The court also found that the defendants had laundered money through the UAE's banking system.
The UAE authorities alleged that the arms trafficking operation was linked to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The court heard that the defendants had used the UAE's territory and financial system to facilitate the deals, which could have damaged the country's relations with the international community. The defendants were also accused of using fake documents and companies to conceal the true nature of the transactions.
The court sentenced the defendants to life in prison, with the possibility of deportation after serving their sentences. In addition to the prison sentences, the court imposed fines of one million dirhams on each defendant for money laundering offenses. The court also ordered the confiscation of assets worth over 1.5 million dirhams.
The UAE's Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, had ordered the prosecution of the defendants after an investigation revealed a large-scale network for the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition. The investigation found that the defendants had used a complex network of companies and bank accounts to facilitate the deals.
The verdict marks a significant development in the UAE's efforts to combat arms trafficking and money laundering. The country's authorities have been working to strengthen their laws and regulations to prevent the misuse of their territory and financial system for illicit activities.
Key points
- The UAE court sentenced eight Sudanese officials and individuals to life in prison for their involvement in a major arms trafficking operation.
- The defendants were found guilty of smuggling weapons and ammunition into the UAE, with the intention of transporting them to Port Sudan.
- The court also ordered the confiscation of seized assets worth over 1.5 million dirhams.
