Cablegate: Court Commutes Four Death Sentences in Peninsula

VZCZCXRO4158
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0965 1750503
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240503Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9420
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000965

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PHUM PGOV IZ KU TERRORISM
SUBJECT: COURT COMMUTES FOUR DEATH SENTENCES IN PENINSULA
LIONS CASE

REF: 06 KUWAIT 4452

1. On June 19, Kuwait's highest court, the Court of
Cassation, commuted the death sentences to life imprisonment
for four defendants in the Peninsula Lions case. The
Peninsula Lions came to prominence in January 2005 following
armed clashes with Kuwait security forces. Under Kuwaiti
law, a life sentence is equal to 25 years of imprisonment.

2. The reduced sentences for Mohammed Saad, Abdullah Saeed,
Mohammed Essa, and Salah Abdullah were the first decisions by
the Court of Cassation in the Peninsula Lions case. The
Court is reviewing 32 other Peninsula Lions verdicts with
decisions expected in the near future. Currently among the
defendants, there are:

- Six life sentences,
- Nine sentences greater than ten years,
- 11 sentences less than four years, and
- 10 not guilty verdicts.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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LeBaron

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