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June 1, 2006
Spain: Islamist's Conviction for 9/11 Involvement Quashed
We reported that Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas (pictured), a Syrian-born Spanish national was convicted on September 26 of conspiring (with others) to commit murder at Spain's Supreme Court. For this, he was sentenced to 15 years' jail. He was also convicted of leading a terrorist group and for this he was given an additional 12 years' jail, to run consecutively. 18 others were also found guilty of belonging to a terror organisation.
Yarkas, also known as Abu Dahdah, was accused of being associates of the Hamburg cell which poltted the 9/11 attacks of 2001 in the US.
However, on February 16, we reported that Yarkas had launched an appeal, and the federal prosecutors recommended that he should have the 15 year sentence waived.
Today, according to Associated Press via Topix.net, Yarkas' conviction for involvement with 9/11 has now been officially thrown out by Spain's Supreme Court. However, the court did uphold his conviction for belonging to a terrorist organisation, and he will still serve the 12 year sentence for this.
Three others, Moroccan-born Driss Chebli and Syrian-born Ghasoub al Abrash Ghalyoun, had also been found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder with Yarkas in September. These convictions were overturned today. On the recommendation of federal prosecutors, they had been released in April.
At that time, prosecutor Fernando Sequeros said that although Yarkas was "evil", there was not enough evidence to incontrovertibly link him with the 9/11 attacks. He said it may be argued that Yarkas was aware of plans for September 11, "but it is another thing altogether to say he planned it and assumed the conspiracy as his own."
According to the BBC, Yarkas had been arrested in November 2001. He had described himself as a second hand car salesman. His telephone had been tapped since 1997. His telephone number had apparently been found in the apartment in Hamburg which had been used by two of the 9/11 hijackers, including Mohamed Atta. Judge Baltasar Garzon had said at Yarkas' trial that Atta's phone number had been in Yarkas' possession.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 1, 2006 9:24 PM
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