Trial of al-Shaer’s Killers Begins Amid Shocking Testimonies and Confessions, While 3 Defendants Remain Absent
Yemen Monitor / Aden / Exclusive:
The Specialized Criminal Court in Yemen’s temporary capital, Aden, held its first session on Sunday to try the defendants accused in the assassination of Dr. Abdulrahman al-Shaer, chairman of Al-Nouras Schools and a leader in the Yemeni Congregation for Reform party.
Legal and media sources told Yemen Monitor that five defendants attended the hearing out of the eight individuals implicated in the crime according to preliminary investigations. The presiding judge confronted the accused with the charges against them. Some admitted involvement in the crime, claiming they had been subjected to pressure and threats from unnamed parties to hasten the execution of the operation, while others denied the accusations.
The opening session witnessed a surprise revelation from the sixth defendant, identified as “Raad Nabil,” who confessed before the judge that he had refused to participate in the operation when asked to do so by the defendant “Abdulrahman al-Dhalei.” He also stated that he had informed security authorities about the assassination plot before it was carried out.
The chief judge refused to allow media outlets to attend the session unless they agreed not to mention the names of the defendants, lawyers, or judges involved in the case. This prompted journalists to withdraw after attending based on an invitation issued by Aden police the previous day.
The court requested the prosecution to bring the first defendant, “Qaid Al-Subeihi,” and the second defendant, “Abdul Rahman Abdul Qadir,” who were arrested in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in addition to bringing the eighth defendant, “Riyadh Abdul Qadir,” currently detained in the Anti-Terrorism prison in Aden.
In a statement to Yemen Monitor, a source from Dr. Abdulrahman al-Shaer’s family stressed the importance of media presence in following the case, which has become a matter of public opinion and concerns the security and stability of the state.
The source said that public oversight is necessary to protect the case from any deviation or delays that could affect the course of evidence, noting that “swift adjudication of the case would strengthen public confidence in judicial and security institutions and enhance stability in areas under the legitimate government.”
Al-Shaer’s family renewed its call for the court proceedings to be public and transparent.
Dr. Abdulrahman al-Shaer was assassinated by armed gunmen on April 25 in the Kabuta area of Al-Mansoura district in Aden while on his way to inaugurate a scientific competition for students.
