Retrial of Bahrain terror-accused postponed

Manama : The Supreme Appeals Court has adjourned the retrial of 10 men convicted in connection with a terrorist group until March 16 to continue hearing the prosecution witnesses. 

Four of the defendants were earlier sentenced to life each, while their co-defendants were given 15 years behind bars each. But the Bahrain’s highest court - the Cassation Court - ordered for a retrial for them after the defendants had lost their appeals. 

All the men implicated in this case were accused of establishing and leading the Jaish Al Imam (Imam Army) terrorist cell with the intention of arming and training its members to carry out acts of terrorism.

The cell  planned to attack the Interior Ministry, Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain’s Formula One circuit, the US Navy base in Juffair, the BDF, Shaikh Isa Air Base and other vital sites. 

The defendants list includes a lawyer, a businessman and a policeman. The terror cell was reportedly waiting for instructions from Iran for carrying out attacks.  The terror cell was allegedly run from Iran by Abu Nasser, a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, who injected $80,000 (BD30,160) into the group.