Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Two defendants, who are being tried on charges of spying for Iran, told the Criminal Court that they could not prepare their written replies to the charges against them because they were unable to meet with their lawyers. Defendants No. 15 and 16 appeared before the court on Sunday but without any written replies in their hands. The son of the defendant No. 15 told the judge that his father could not meet with his lawyer at the prison but when the judge asked him if he was there and personally saw the prison guards preventing the lawyer from meeting with his father, he replied in the negative. The son told the judge that he did not go personally to the prison where his father was being kept and did not see the lawyer being prevented entry. The judge threatened to take punitive action if it was proved that the lawyer went to the prison to meet with his client but the prison guards prevented him from doing so. Defendant No. 16 also said the same thing. He followed the same pattern of the other defendants who have been telling the courts that they were unable to prepare their replies because they were not able to meet with their lawyers or that they were not supplied with pens and paper. The judge gave all the defendants a month's time to submit their written replies. The lawyers have been absent from the court since it has started sessions early February. They demanded to be given nearby parking lots, not to be frisked and to be allowed to enter the court room with their mobile phones. The judge refused to accept their demands and asked them to take these requests to the president of the court. Defendant No. 15 is a university staff member. He is accused of meeting with Iranian intelligence elements and supplying them with lists containing the names of the security men and the university staff. Defendant No. 16 is an educationalist with a long experience. He is facing the accusations of spying for Iran and plotting to spread chaos in the Kingdom.
