Sanaa court grants final chance to defendants in British-linked spy cell case

SANAA, Aug. 16 (YPA) – The Sanaa-based Specialized Criminal Division on Sunday granted defendants in a British intelligence-affiliated spy cell a final opportunity to present their arguments at the next hearing.

During the hearing, presided over by Judge Abdullah Al-Najjar and attended by Judges Hussein Al-Ezzi and Mohammed Al-Sufyani, the court heard the prosecution’s response, which maintained its request to uphold the initial ruling, as well as the defendants’ defense arguments.

The initial ruling convicted nine defendants, sentencing eight of them to death.

According to the prosecution, the defendants had cooperated with Saudi Arabia and Britain between 2021 and 2025, collected sensitive information, and monitored individuals and locations in Sanaa in exchange for money and gold.

The prosecution alleged that their activities aimed to undermine Yemen’s security and recruit agents for foreign intelligence services.