Al Houthi put on trial

By Nasser Arrabyee/26/10/2009

The Yemen State Security Court started Monday a trial in absentia for the political leader of Al Houthi armed rebellion, Yahya Al Houthi, who is currently living in Germany.

The court's Judge Muhsen Alwan, considered Al Houthi as fugitive from justice, and agreed to try him in absentia after the prosecutor recited the paper of accusations.

The prosecutor Saeed Al Akel said that Yemen requested from the Interpol to arrest Al Houthi and extradite him as soon as possible.

From the accusations, Yahya Al Houthi formed a militia to overthrow the current republican system and to restore the royal clerical rule by force. Al Houthi also was accused of ordering people in Sa'ada not to pay Zakat for the state.

" Yahya Badr Al Deen Al Houthi participated in forming an armed terrorist gang and led it during 2004-2009 for carrying out sabotage and criminal acts in a number of places in Yemen and the capital Sana'a," said the prosecutor Al Akel.

"He prepared all means and weapons, ammunitions, explosives, transportation and communication equipments, required for that."

This gang implemented their criminal plan by killing a number of citizens, and soldiers and destructing public and private properties, and they planned for assassinating a number of personalities including the US ambassador," said the prosecutor.

The Prosecutor Saeed Al Akel demanded the court to pass a maximum punishment to Yahya Al Al Houthi.

The Judge Musen Al Alwan ordered formation of a defense panel for Al Houthi and postponed the session to November 2nd, 2009.