The trial of an Iraqi accused of smuggling weapons to the Palestinians in the West Bank started Wednesday in Amman’s State Security Court. Abbas Meteiri was arrested in October 2001 in Jordan. He had then confessed to smuggling weapons from Iraq to the West Bank.
In court on Wednesday, Meteiri confirmed his former confession. “I accepted because these weapons were destined to support the Intifada against the Israeli occupation, ” he was quoted as claiming.
The Iraqi said he met in April 2001, in Amman another Iraqi national, Mohammad Tali, who offered him 600 Jordanian Dinars, an equivalent of 840 Dollars to smuggle 13 Kalashnikov rifles in his truck (Meteiri is an oil tanker driver). He added that Tali asked him to get in touch upon his arrival in Amman with “Abu Qussai” to hand him over the arms shipment.
Meteiri said he had succeeded in smuggling the first batch to Jordan in April 2001, and again in September. However, on his second attempt, he was caught just before he could deliver the arms and explosives to Abu Qussai, who is still free.
Mohammad Deweik, Meteiri’s lawyer asked the court to be "lenient" toward his client, whom he says was "forced" to smuggle the weapons. (Albawaba.com)
