Aali fake bomb case: Court rejects appeal

A man found guilty, along with three others, of placing a fake bomb in Aali has had his three-year jail term upheld by the Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal on Sunday. The appellant, along with a group of rioters, planted the fake bomb on Shaikh Zayed Highway in Aali in August 2015.

A bomb squad rushed to the spot and after a thorough check declared it as a hoax. Rioters painted a fire extinguisher and stuck wires on its sides to make it look like a bomb. Fingerprints obtained from the crime scene led to the arrest of one of the suspects who was also previously booked for similar crimes. Confessions by him led to the arrest of three others.

They told police that one of them procured the materials used for making the bomb, while others assembled it. The suspects also confessed of their participation in the riots and creating tense moments in the area. On August 14, 2015, the Public Prosecution accused the defendants, along with other unknown individuals, of placing a fake explosive device on the road.

The Criminal Court sentenced them to three years imprisonment. The Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of one of the suspects, who pleaded not guilty, on Sunday.