Isa Qassim ’s trial on illegal funds resume today

Manama : The second hearing of the trial of infamous religious cleric Isa Qassim along with two other men in the money laundering case will be held today. 

The High Criminal Court adjourned the case to August 14 as none of the accused had turned up during the first hearing. The trio are believed to have raised funds illegally, laundered money and financed anti-Bahrain organisations in Iran and Iraq. 

According to court files, Isa Qassim’s accomplices had told prosecutors earlier that he was the mastermind in their activities. He had instructed them to raise the funds for him. 

The duo also revealed that Isa Qassim had used some of the money for buying US$1 million worth of properties that were registered under his name. 

It’s worth noting that the public prosecution had informed earlier that a sum of US$10 million was found deposited in his bank account during investigations.  

Isa Qassim is said to have stopped putting cash in his account since 2013. 

To give legitimacy to some of the money, he purchased real estate worth more than US$1 million and registered the properties under his name, according to prosecutors. 

The case was referred to the court following intensive investigations by the Public Prosecution. 

Meanwhile, Isa Qassim was not questioned in connection with the case considering his health condition after one of his lawyers informed that he had suffered indisposition. None of the defendants is in police custody.