Society's secretary-general to be re-tried

Manama, Oct. 19 (BNA): Advocate General, Haroon Al-Zayani, said that the Court of Cassation had, on October 17, issued its ruling on the appeal lodged by the Secretary-General of a political society regarding his nine-year prison sentence. The Court of Cassation overturned the jail term sentence and referred the case back to the Court of Appeals to look into it again, he said. The court rejected the suspect's request to be released, and accordingly, the High Court of Appeals will hear the case again with a new judicial panel, and the defendant will remain in custody pending the trial, he added. Al-Zayani pointed out that the Court of Cassation had issued its ruling, being a court that examines the appeals lodged and assesses whether they meet the legal requirements, without addressing the charges or the conviction of the court that issued the initial verdict, or the evidence on which the ruling was based. The Public Prosecution charged the defendant with promoting a change of the political system using illegal forceful means and threats inciting hatred against a group of people and non-compliance with the law, and insulting a statutory body. The evidence presented to the court included recording of the sermons and speeches he had delivered at public gatherings, as well as media statements which included promoting political change, incitement and defamation. The High Court of Appeals handed down a nine-year prison sentence against the defendant after reviewing the collected evidence, and listening to the statements of the Public Prosecution and his defence team, the Advocate General added.