Sheikh Ahmad verdict: guilty

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GENEVA, Sept 11, (AP): Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait was found guilty on Friday of forgery linked to implicating his political rivals in Kuwait in a coup plot – a verdict that puts his long career in global sports politics at risk. Sheikh Ahmad, his English former lawyer, a Kuwaiti aide and two more lawyers based in Geneva in 2014 were convicted on forgery charges linked to orchestrating a sham arbitration case in the upscale Swiss city.

The sheikh was sentenced to almost 14 months’ jail time with a further 15 months suspended in a case that has put much of his Olympic work on hold for almost three years. “I know I didn’t do anything. I will wait for the appeal (and) my rights,” Sheikh Ahmad said as he walked away from court with his lawyers, adding he would return to Geneva to challenge his conviction. “I will never stop because I believe I am innocent.”

The panel of three judges found the five men took part in a staged legal dispute and arbitration hearing to gain a favorable ruling. It sought to authenticate video footage that would show two Kuwaiti politicians – including a former prime minister – discussing a possible coup in the oil-rich kingdom. His sentence was more severe than the public prosecutor had requested – just six months’ jail time with a further two years suspended.

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