DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST 1ST CONVICT OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL UPHELD

SANA'A, April 03 (Saba)- A Yemeni court of Appeals upheld on Saturday a death sentence against the main convict of spying for Israel Bassam al-Haidari.

The court reduced five years term in jail against second convict Ali Mahfal to three years and rejected appeal of the third convict Emad al-Raimi who was sentenced three years in prison.

The first and third convict asked appeal to the Supreme Court.

In March of 2009, the panel court sent to death Bassam Al-Haidari, the main convict in the case, five years in jail against second convict Ali Mahfal and three years against third convict Emad al-Raimi.

The prosecution accused Al-Haidari of being in contact with Israel through an email which he sent to Ehud Olmert. The message reads, "We are the Jihad Organization and you are Jews but you are honest and we are ready for anything."

The accusation said that the Israeli response included the following: "We are ready to support you to be a stumbling block to the Middle East and we will support you as agents."

AH