Lawyers hopeful on Westerners’ case

RIYADH, 2 October — Lawyers defending the case of five Britons and a Belgian, arrested in connection with a string of bomb blasts in the Kingdom, said they expected a positive decision soon in their case.

"We expect the case would end soon in a positive way," lawyers Dr. Ahmad Al-Tuwaijeri and Salah Al-Hujeilan told Arab News. The case is being studied by the Supreme Judiciary Council. Tuwaijeri and Hujeilan said the confession by their clients — Britons Peter Brandon, James Cottle, James Lee, Les Walker and Alexander "Sandy" Mitchell, and Belgian Raf Schyvens — on television was not meant to deny their right to defend themselves or jeopardize their case.

"On the other hand, it was done in response to public concern and worries at national and regional levels toward those explosions," they said.

Saudi authorities also wanted to allay expatriates’ fears, they added.

"The television confession will not have any effect on the court verdict as all security and judicial agencies in the Kingdom abide by the principle that an accused is innocent until proved guilty," the lawyers said.

"It has not been proved yet that the accused have been subjected to any physical torture. What is said by the accused in this respect still remains a mere claim," the lawyers said in their joint statement.

The Interior Ministry has a good record in the investigation of such cases. "It has issued strong and decisive directives to all security agencies that no confession should be drawn from the accused by torture. The minister of interior and his assistant make sure the directives are strictly followed," they explained.

The lawyers lambasted the move by certain section of the international media to politicize a criminal case and interfere in its proceedings.

"This is part of an aggressive anti-Saudi campaign being launched by the Zionists because of the Kingdom’s principled stand on the Palestinian issue," they added.

The lawyers blasted the irresponsible acts by certain sections of international media on the issue of Western prisoners in the Kingdom and urged them to do their duty toward thousands of Arab and Muslim prisoners languishing in the jails of Western countries without being accused or receiving any care.

The lawyers reaffirmed their faith in Saudi judiciary and in its competence and fairness. Saudi authorities wanted to establish the truth and justice in the case, they said and praised the cooperation they received from officials of the Interior Ministry, Supreme Judiciary Council and Investigation and Public Prosecution Department.

"We are in constant contact with our clients. They receive good treatment and health care. Their mental condition is also good as they are not facing any harassment. They are optimistic of the Saudi judiciary’s verdict and the justice and humaneness of Saudi leaders.