Suspect handed down one-year jail term for violating mandatory health measures

Manama, Jan. 1 (BNA): The second Lower Criminal Court has handed down a verdict of one-year jail term and a fine of BD 5,000 against a suspect who failed to implement the mandatory precautionary health measures related to restaurants and Shisha cafés, the Secretariat-General of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) announced. The defendant was referred to the court for exceeding the tolerated number at gatherings, and non-commitment to the health measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, Court of Cassation President and Deputy SJC President, Chancellor Abdulla Hassan Al-Buainain, issued an edict, mandating the second and eighth Lower Criminal Court to examine cases related to violating the measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. The courts shall work all days of the weeks, and during the weekend and New Year holidays. The edict stipulates that the competent court shall examine cases related to the pandemic measures violations and issue verdicts within 24 hours.