Yemeni MP Imprisoned Despite Immunity
A parliamentary committee in-charge of inspecting facts about detention of an MP over an official murder has demanded the MP release, but prosecution refuses.
MP Ahmad al-Barati, who is being held at the Central Prison in Taiz over the murder of director of Khadeer district Ahmad Mansour al-Shawafi, was not at the scene at that time as the General Attorney and head of Taiz Prosecution have claimed, said the committee in its report to the Parliament on Sunday.
The committee said information according to which the General Attorney and Taiz Prosecutor have claimed that MP al-Barati was arrested “red” handed in the murder of Khadeer’s director al-Shawafi was groundless. It said the arrest of al-Barati, who has immunity, without charge is a violation of law.
The Parliament agreed to summon the General Attorney and head of the Taiz Prosecution to question them over the issue.
However, the official 26sep.net reported Monday that Taiz Prosecution has decided to continue holding MP al-Barati for more 20 days to complete investigations into al-Shawafi’s murder.
Al-Shawafi and two of his guards were shot dead by a group of armed men said to be fellows of MP al-Barati who allegedly has opposed the appointment of al-Shawafi as director of Khadeer.
TAIZ – The Director General of al-Khidair district in Taiz Ahmed Mansour al-Shawafi and his aide Ali Abdulhamid were murdered in a shooting on Monday.
His driver Ahmed Saif, as well as Mohamed Ahmed Nashir, Mohammed Mukarad and Abdullah al-Baila were injured in the attack and are now in hospital in Taiz. The men were killed by men affiliated with MP Ahmed Abas al-Barati.According to local sources, there was an ongoing dispute between al-Barati, the area’s Member of Parliament (MP) and the Director-General over his appointment to this position. Eyewitnesses said that as al-Shawafi arrived at work in the morning he was met with a shower of bullets that hit the front of his car.
The sources said al-Shawafi was hit by several bullets, splitting his head into two. Security sources confirmed the arrest of MP al-Barati and two of his followers.
A dispute broke out between Mohammed al-Shawafi, the current Director-General and brother of the deceased Deputy-Governor and al-Barati several months ago due to the Director-General’s support for a nominee other than al-Barati in the parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for April. These developments followed the rejection of a number of prominent figures in Khidair, including MP al-Barati, and the appointment of the Deputy-Governor’s brother to the position of Director-General, as well as the appointment of a new security Manager.
In a related issue, local sources stressed the importance of the imposition of a curfew and the closure of stores following the Director-General’s murder, and the mobilization of al-Barati’s followers. Al-Barati is a member of the GPC, and news sources have mentioned that armed groups from Haifan, including Sheikh Mohammed Mansour al-Shawafi’s entered Khidair threatening civil war in the area.
