ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals' State Security Chamber has sentenced three individuals to death and a fourth to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Moldovan-Israeli citizen Zvi Kogan.
The ruling follows an extensive investigation by the UAE’s State Security Prosecution, which confirmed that the crime was carried out with terrorist intent.
The prosecution's case, presented in January 2025, was built on confessions from the defendants, forensic reports, post-mortem examination findings, and testimonies from witnesses. Evidence detailed how the accused had tracked and abducted Kogan before murdering him. The court found that three of the defendants directly participated in the crime, while the fourth acted as an accomplice. He will be deported after serving his life sentence.
Under UAE law, all death sentences are automatically subject to appeal and will be reviewed by the Criminal Division of the Federal Supreme Court. The Attorney General, Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, underscored the UAE’s firm stance against terrorism and its dedication to upholding justice while ensuring due legal process.
The verdict reinforces the UAE’s commitment to national security, with authorities emphasising that the country’s judiciary remains steadfast in preventing any attempts to disrupt stability. The Attorney General also reiterated that the UAE is a global model of coexistence and tolerance, where laws safeguard all residents, regardless of nationality or religion.