RIYADH — The Saudi militant, who provided shelter to Al-Qaeda members who kidnapped the Saudi Deputy Consul General in Yemen, has been sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 27 years in prison. He has also been banned from travel abroad after completing his jail term, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday. The Saudi diplomat, Abdullah Al-Khaldi, was kidnapped two years ago in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden. The charges against the Saudi militant include joining Al-Qaeda in Yemen and making Yemen a starting point for carrying out terrorist operations in the Kingdom. He was in charge of giving weapons training the youth who joined Al-Qaeda camps in Yemen recently. He also alongside Al-Qaeda elements in Yemen. He carried out some terrorist operations there. The militant was in charge of the information aspect of the terrorist organization in Yemen, among other charges. On announcing the verdict, the Public Prosecutor objected to it and presented an objection document. The defendant also objected to the verdict without presenting an appeal document. It was explained to him that the verdict is appealable within 30 days from the date of receiving the verdict document. Last Sunday, the Saudi security authorities announced the arrest of 135 militants for terrorism offences. The militants include 26 foreign nationals, among them 16 Syrians and three Yemenis.
