Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Criminal Court in Riyadh, trying the cell of spies for Iran, has turned down a request by one of the defendants not to allow journalists to attend the court sessions. The judge in the case told him that the media presence in the court was important for objective and neutral reporting. The Criminal Court began its second round of sessions to try 32 people known as the cell of spies for Iran after a recess since Feb. 23. Two of the defendants appeared before the court on Monday. They were individually ushered into the courtroom to reply to the charges filed against them by the general attorney. They both failed to submit written replies giving lame excuses which the judge did not accept. The first defendant said he could not prepare his reply because he was not allowed to meet his lawyer while the second said he did not have pen or paper in the place where he is being detained to write his reply. The judge refused to accept their excuses and asked them to submit their written replies in the next court session at the end of the month. The second defendant also asked the judge to allow him to skip court hearings because he is suffering from a number of illnesses. The judge turned down his request and asked him to submit a medical report if he did not wish to appear before the court. The lawyers were absent from the session which was attended by the families of the accused, the attorney general, the media and the representative of the HRC. A total of 32 people, consisting of 30 Saudis, an Iranian and an Afghan national, are accused of spying for Iran, meeting with Iranian intelligence elements, sharing classified information about the Kingdom with Iran and conspiring to sabotage a number of vital military and economic establishments in the Kingdom. The attorney general has sought capital punishment for 25 of the 32 defendants excluding the Iranian who refused to appoint a lawyer.
