Witnesses to be heard in building arson case

Manama 

Defence witnesses will be heard on September 3 in the trial of six defendants accused of setting a government building ablaze. The Jidhafs Municipality building was torched by masked men on October 16 last year, causing damage worth more than BD500,000. 

A security guard, who was in the property during the incident, made a narrow escape from the fire after he jumped out through a window. 

He, however, was admitted to hospital with injuries.  The defendants, who are implicated in connection with the attack, earlier pleaded not guilty, though prosecutors said that they were the men behind the attack.   

Ex Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi said earlier that a terrorist group targeted the Jidhafs Municipality around 10.30pm on October 16, last year damaging everything inside the building, including documents, money, computers and equipment.  

A video footage showed six masked men entering the building, dousing the interior with flammable substances and torching it.

Dr Al Ka’abi said that the office was part of the Northern Municipality and handled 13,000 applications every year for permits relating to construction, remodelling, electricity and water connections and Commercial Registrations (CRs).