He was also handed down the sentence for funding and abetting three terrorist organisations: Al Qaeda, Ansar Al Sunna and the Arab Organisation in Iraq.

Security agencies received from overseas information confirming the defendant was in direct online touch with these organisations and had passed on news and important information.

He confessed he had made a mistake when he entered the websites of Ansar Al Sunna, an Al Qaeda-linked Iraqi group which had earlier claimed responsibility for suicide bombings and kidnappings, but pleaded not guilty on the ground that it was unintentional.

The accused and his family attended Monday’s hearing. They appeared relieved to hear Khalifa Al Mohiri, Chief of the State Secuirty Circuit, say upon the verdict the defendant would be deported after he had served what remained of the 18-month sentence.

UAE Police arrested the 43-year-old man 14 months ago and he has been in jail since. Court records say he was a resident expatriate in the country.

“This verdict explains clearly the integrity of UAE justice, as the family of the accused feared that the accused might be sentenced to 10 years in jail and deportation,” Dr. Fahd Al Sabhan, defence lawyer of the accused told  Khaleej Times.

“The Public Prosecution has pressed strong allegations, saying that he had given Dh2,000 to a terrorist organisation to help it in firing two rockets on Israel,” he said. “I defended my client confirming that he had donated the amount to an orphanage.”

Dr. Sabhan argued the amount was far too meagre to finance firing two missiles on the Jewish state. Further, the papers printed out of the defendant’s PC held no ground for arraignment as they contained information freely disseminated by the news agencies.

“The portal webs my client had dealt with were accessible and open to everyone,” he added.

adel@khaleejtimes.com