Damascus: Five year imprisonment for Riyadh Seif

The second criminal court in Damascus on Thursday issued its sentence against the former Syrian opposition member of parliament and former industrialist Riyadh Seif of five year imprisonment.

Seif entered the court escorted by police men. He was received by strong applause from some of the audiences. When one of the audiences greeted him he said "Nothing is for free and that freedom has a price."

The judge read the sentence "In the name of the Syrian people," which was decided according to the "request of the attorney court it was agreed to hold the convict of the crime aiming at 'changing the state's constitutions by illegal means' and this will be in temporary custody for five years and imprisonment for 6 months under the accusation of forming a secret society, holding illegal meetings."

The two charges were confirmed by the end of the 12th session of Seif's trial, and the date of jailing Seif since September 9, 2001 as part of the sentence. Seif was also deprived of his civil rights.

The court found Seif innocent from the crime of provoking sectarianism and riots because of the insufficient evidences.