Bahrain's High Court: Three individuals convicted of collaborating with Government of Qatar

Manama, Nov. 4 (BNA): Bahrain's High Court of Appeal today found three Bahraini nationals guilty of collaborating and sharing information with Qatar's government and senior government officials. Advocate General, Osama Al Oufi, said the three individuals involved received life imprisonment due to the seriousness of their crimes, which included sharing sensitive security materials with the government of Qatar, and collaborating with Qatari officials to support acts of violence throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Advocate General noted that as in all countries, acts of espionage and collaboration with foreign powers aimed at undermining domestic security are taken extremely seriously. Osama Al Oufi went on to add that the court's ruling took into consideration the weight of evidence against the defendants, including intercepted telephone conversations and messages, and proof of illicit funds deposited into the defendants' bank accounts by the Qatari government. The court in its concluding remarks also noted prosecution evidence which found the direct involvement of senior members of Qatar's government, including Qatar’s then Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Attyia, the former advisor to the Qatari Amir, Hamad bin Thamir Al Thani, Chairman of Al Jazeera's Board of Directors, and Saeed Al Shehabi, Chief Editor of 'Majlat Al’Alam' in London. Osama Al Oufi added that as in line with Bahrain's constitution, the defendants have the right to appeal the court's decision at the Court of Cassation.