Five Britons facing the death penalty for alleged terrorism offences in the Saudi Kingdom are to be spared execution and will instead face minor charges, according to a British daily.
The news has delighted supporters of the five who insisted there was overwhelming evidence that they were tortured into confessing to terrorism on TV. The case severed relations between London and Riyadh for over a year after the five were accused of planting bombs that killed one Briton and wounded others, the British Observer reported.
The charges carried with them a possible death sentence, which in Saudi Arabia would mean public beheading by the sword. However, defense lawyers recently withdrew the confessions and Saudi authorities are, in effect, close to dropping the charges.
“They are now prepared to proceed as if [the five] were not involved in those attacks,” said a source close to the Saudi Security Ministry.
The men's Saudi lawyer declined to comment, “I can say nothing on this case at the moment,” said Salah al-Hujailan.
Saudi officials claimed that the men ran illegal drinking establishments in the alcohol-free kingdom and the bombings were part of a turf war between rival bootleggers. If the bombing charges are dropped, it is likely that the men will plead guilty to alcohol offences and receive short prison terms.
The Britons, Alexander Mitchell, James Cottle, Les Walker, James Lee and Peter Brandon, were charged with masterminding a series of explosions, including a car bomb that killed one man.
Experts believe the most likely culprits behind the wave of bombings that targeted Westerners were actually local Islamic groups fighting to overthrow the Saudi royal family.
One of the bombings, outside a popular expatriate supermarket, took place after the accused Britons had been arrested. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
