Six charged over giving supplies to Houthi rebels in Yemen

ABU DHABI // Charges were brought against six men for providing supplies to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Prosecutors said the men gave chemicals and communication tools to the insurgent group, which is on the UAE’s list of designated terrorist organisations.

The five Yemenis and an Omani appeared at the Federal Supreme Court on Monday.

A M, 40, A A, 40, and A S, 34, from Yemen and G A, 49, from Oman, were accused of handing over the supplies to S M, 36, and F J, 41, from Yemen.

Investigations showed that the defendants were aware of the group’s terrorism links, prosecutors said.

A A also faces charges over managing assets that belonged to the terrorist group. He is accused of investing the group’s funds in a business that he set up in Dubai.

“That company was set up in Dubai to provide funds for the Houthis,” the prosecutor said.

The accused are being tried under the UAE’s anti-terrorism law, which incriminates anyone committing any act considered illegal that would lead to acts of terror, whether directly or indirectly.

The Omani man told the judge that he was hired as a driver and did not know what he was transporting. All six defendants pleaded not guilty.

The case was adjourned to January 4 for the defence to present its case.