High Appeals Court rules in terrorist group case

Manama, Oct. 29 (BNA): The High Court of Appeals today ruled in the case of establishment, formation, joining, financing and running of a terrorist group to break the law, Terror Crime Prosecution Chief Dr. Ahmed Al Hammadi, said. The court's jury unanimously accepted the appeal of one of the defendants in form but rejected it in substance and upheld the verdict. The court also accepted the appeal of thirteen defendants in form but rejected it in substance and upheld the appealed verdict. The terrorist group had killed two policemen and attempted to murder several others, possessed, handled and used explosive devices, weapons and incendiary devices, damaged properties, assisted and concealed fugitive terrorists to escape justice without reporting to the authorities. They also entered and exited Bahrain unlawfully. The High Criminal Court on 29 March 2017 sentenced two defendants to death, five defendants to a life in jail, six defendants to ten years each, one defendant to five years in jail, two defendants to three years each and two defendants to two years each, and four defendants to six months incarceration. The court acquitted four of the defendants. The court ordered to revoke the nationality of nine of the defendants and obliged seven defendants to collectively pay an amount of BD 6,640/800 (six thousand, six-hundred and forty Bahraini dinars, and 800 fils) in consideration for property damages. The case details date back to 28 July 2015 on which the Public Prosecution received a report from the Capital Governorate's Police informing about the terrorist bombing of a police bus in Sitra area which claimed the life of two policemen and injured six others. Investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) pinpointed the perpetrators of the blast who formed the terrorist group and joined it along with a number of suspects upon instructions from fugitives in Iran for the purpose of targeting the police personnel. Several defendants including a member of one of the political societies were tasked to finance their terrorist group in order to implement its attacks. One of the suspects knew about the criminal plot and its perpetrators but failed to report the matter to the concerned authorities. Also, some of the defendants were found in possession of explosive materials and homemade firearms. Four of the suspects harboured convicted fugitive members of the terrorist group. Five suspects assisted one of the members of the terrorist group to exit and reenter Bahrain illegally who headed to Iran where he received training on how to use explosives and weapons and where he was received by official bodies there. The defendants were referred to the High Criminal Court which deliberated their case and listened to their defence arguments, and the Public Prosecution arguments which insisted on maximum penalty on them. The court issued its aforesaid sentence which has been upheld and approved by the High Court of Appeals during its session today.