Yemenia Hijacker Verdict Upheld [Archives:2001/08/Local News]

The Sana’a Appeal Court upheld in its Saturday session the 15-year prison sentence against Yemenia hijacker Jaber Ali Sater. The Court Judge Abdul Farwan said that during the appeal sessions it was found that Sater committed the crime of hijacking and jeopardizing the lives of 91 passengers on board. The hijacker was also fined $72, 610 as compensation to Yemenia Airlines as well as the expenses for the medical treatment of Eng. Adli Al-Baghdadi who was injured in his arm by a bullet fired from the pen gun of Sater. The court also confirmed the confiscation of the fake ID and the pen gun.
The judge asked the hijacker if he wanted to disprove this verdict or not. He was very much confused and asked the judge what it meant to invalidate the verdict and the benefit of that. But he said that he has the right to disprove the verdict at the Supreme Court which most of the time approves the verdict of the appeal court.
Sater attempted hijacking the Yemenia plane on its flight to Taiz. Among the 91 passengers was the American ambassador, Barbara Bodine and other diplomats. The crew was able to foil the hijacking attempt at Djibouti airport where the hijacker was disarmed and given to the airport police. None of the passengers were hurt.

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