RIYADH – The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced on Wednesday a Pakistani to two and a half years in prison for involvement in militant activities, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The court said a period of eight months the man had already spent in detention under the cybercrime law would be deducted from his prison term. It said the man will be deported from the country after his release from prison. The Pakistani was accused of handing money to four Saudi citizens to travel to Afghanistan to join the fighting there. He was also charged with meeting advocates of a deviant ideology and discussing with them matters concerning the war in Afghanistan. He also expressed his determination to join the fighting in the Asian nation. The Pakistani allegedly received email messages from an Al-Qaeda operative informing him that the group was looking for a trustworthy individual who can organize communication with him and collect donations for the group. One of the messages said they were looking for a person who supports Al-Nusrah Front in Syria. Both the public prosecutor and the defendant challenged the verdict, which can be appealed within 30 days. — SG/SPA
