Businessman jailed for assisting Iran's nuclear programme

Abu Dhabi - He is accused of conducting a hostile act which may sabotage the ties between the UAE and Britain

A trader who tried to re-export an electric generator to Iran - in violation of a UN saction - has been sentenced to 10 years in jail.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals on Wednesday found the Iranian trader, S. M. A. E., guilty of violating the international sanctions to assist his country's nuclear programme and ordered he be deported after serving his jail term.
Authorities have confiscated the generator and seized other devices related to the case.
According to the public prosecution, the defendant used the UAE territory, Jebel Ali port, to re-export the generator via Myanmar.
The defendant was the general manager of a company working in the oil and gas sector in Dubai. The public prosecutors accused him of conducting a hostile act which may sabotage the ties between the UAE and Britain. He was also charged with forgery of official documents.
The federal court also reviewed a number of other cases relating to national security.
In one case, the court handed down three-year jail terms to 38-year-old A.H.M.M and A.A. H, two GCC nationals, for posting and spreading ideas online, which may incite sedition and spark sectarian strife among the Emirati population.
The two were also fined Dh500,000, required to delete the posts, and pay court expenses. They will be deported after serving their sentences.
However, the court acquitted a third person identified as M.M.H., an Emirati aged 34, who was also accused in the case.
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi