Man requests early verdict in UAE terror trial

Emirati KTM, 41, who is on trial for joining a Syrian terrorist group, asked the Federal Supreme Court to announce its verdict on Monday so he could “join his family for iftar”.

ABU DHABI // A man on trial for joining a Syrian terrorist group asked the Federal Supreme Court to announce its verdict on Monday so he could “join his family for iftar”.

K T M, 41, an Emirati, is accused of travelling to Syria to join Jabhat Al Nusra, an Al Qaeda-affiliated group. It is also alleged he received military training from ISIL.

He is also accused of travelling overseas to get married “without an official contract”.

In a previous session, a video was played to the court showing the defendant dressed in black and singing to children. Public prosecution said the video proved the defendant was a member of Jabhat Al Nusra.

The court had asked for a technical test to confirm that the audio soundtrack matched the video footage. The report, however, was not ready for the hearing on Monday and the case was adjourned.

K T M asked Judge Shihab Al Hammadi to announce his verdict, saying he wanted to have iftar with his family for the remainder of the holy month. The defendant also said that the case file was inaccurate, because it included a number that was not his.

Judge Al Hammadi told him that an adjournment was the proper procedure and the verdict would be announced after the forensic results were given to court. The case was adjourned to September 7.