Bahraini Lawyer Sentenced to Three Months in Prison for Insulting Police Officers

TDT - Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

A Bahraini lawyer has been sentenced to three months in prison by the Lower Criminal Court for insulting two police officers while they were executing an arrest warrant against him. The lawyer was also found guilty of throwing objects at the officers. The court imposed a 100 Bahraini Dinar bail to suspend the execution of the sentence, pending the outcome of his appeal.

The lawyer is said to have assaulted police officers who were tasked to execute an arrest warrant issued against the lawyer. During the previous hearing, the Public Prosecutor argued that the arrest warrant was a legal procedure and not a search warrant, emphasising that the force used by the police was in accordance with the law.

The Prosecutor refuted the lawyer's claims of police assault, stating that the officers had gone to the lawyer's residence to execute the arrest warrant. The lawyer, according to the Prosecutor, refused to open the door and demanded the warrant be passed under the door. After several attempts to open the door, the lawyer began filming the officers and verbally abusing them.

The Prosecutor explained that the police had to restrain the lawyer after arresting him, stressing that they had identified themselves and their legal authority from the beginning. The Prosecutor requested the maximum penalty for the lawyer.

The lawyer's defense attorney argued that his client was alone in his apartment when he was surprised by individuals claiming to be police officers with an arrest warrant. The lawyer, according to his attorney, questioned them from behind the door to verify their identity and authority.

The lawyer requested the warrant be passed under the door for verification, but the officers claimed it was on their phone. When the lawyer opened the door to see the warrant, he decided to film the incident as a precaution. However, the officer asked him to stop filming, and the police proceeded to arrest him.

The lawyer's attorney insisted that his client did not commit the crime of insulting a public official, arguing that the arrest procedures were invalid due to insufficient investigation.

Despite the defense's arguments, the court found the lawyer guilty and sentenced him to three months in prison.