Doctor's Appeal Against 10-Year Drug Trafficking Sentence Adjourned

TDT | Manama

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The High Appeals Court has adjourned the appeal of a doctor sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking. The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 23rd to facilitate the transfer of the appellant from prison.

The doctor, along with another defendant, was initially sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 Bahraini dinars each by the lower court.

The case originated from information received by the police regarding a suspicious vehicle in Riffa. The driver of the vehicle was observed placing items in a sewage pipe belonging to a residence. Investigations revealed the vehicle belonged to the third defendant, who was subsequently apprehended and searched with a warrant from the Public Prosecution.

The third defendant, aged 34 years old, confessed to being on his way to receive drugs through a "dead drop" with a friend. He admitted to being a drug user and obtaining drugs from the first and second defendants. He also offered to lead the police to them.

An undercover agent, then contacted the first defendant, the doctor, aged 29, and, in the presence of officers, requested a quantity of drugs for 20 Bahraini dinars. They agreed on a meeting point, where a trap was set to nab the doctor. He was found in possession of drugs, and further searches of his vehicle revealed plastic containers containing the same substance.

The doctor claimed the drugs belonged to the 24-year-old second defendant, stating he had been entrusted with them before the second defendant traveled abroad. The latter was later arrested upon his return through the land border. Investigations concluded that the first and second defendants possessed the drugs for sale and personal use, while the third defendant was a user who admitted to purchasing drugs from the first and second defendants.

An examination of the first defendant's phone revealed numerous conversations on WhatsApp regarding drug sales. The seized substances were confirmed to be narcotics. The first defendant maintained that the drugs belonged to the second defendant, while the latter insisted he

The Public Prosecution charged the doctor and the second defendants with possession and sale of narcotics for trafficking, and possession and use of psychotropic substances without legal authorization. The third defendant, aged 34, was charged with possession and use of the psychotropic substance "shabu" without legal authorisation. The second defendant was acquitted due to lack of evidence.