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Jordan sentences five men for Iraqi insurgency plots

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-26 14:35

AMMAN -- Five Jordanians were sentenced to five-year in prison for plotting to fight Americans in Iraq by Jordan's State Security Court Monday, local daily the Jordan Times reported on Tuesday.

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The defendants, three of whom were tried in absentia, were convicted of plotting actions between December 2007 and February 2008, which would undermine Jordan's relations with another country and subject the kingdom to hostile acts, said the charge sheet.

The charge also said two defendants, who fought with the Iraqi resistance movement, returned to Jordan to recruit more fighters and suicide bombers to fight against the Iraqi army and the coalition forces.

They managed to recruit two, but their plots were uncovered and foiled by Jordanian security forces, it added.

The five each received a five-year prison term, but the two who were present in court had their sentence reduced by half because the court said they were "young and deserve a second chance in life."