20 men to stand trial in torture, murder cases

Manama : Twenty men accused of murder, torture, rape and abduction of alleged police informers will be soon tried  in the court.

Two cases are related to the kidnap, torture and murder of 18-year-old Sayed Ahmed Sayed Mosa and Sayed Mohammed Hilal last year, while the third case is related to rape.

“The defendants will be facing charges of torturing youngsters from the villages of Duraz and Sanabis, as well as stealing and vandalising their properties on allegations that the victims were collaborating with the police and providing them with information about wanted suspects or filming rallies,” the prosecution said in a statement.

In the first incident, in which Sayed Ahmed was killed, four suspects will be tried on charges of torture of the victim to death. Ahmed was kidnapped from Shakhura village in the Northern Governorate and was later found in Duraz few days later. 

“Details of the case go back to October 4, 2016, when authorities were informed that an unidentified person was found in Duraz, close to the Post Office Avenue. He was unconscious and in a critical condition. He was taken to Salmaniya Medical Complex.  His father recognised him from a photo posted on social media. The youngster remained in a coma for a few days before succumbing to injuries,” according to prosecution.

In the second case, 26-year-old Bahraini Sayed Mohammed Hilal from Karrana village was abducted and tortured by the defendants last August. The kidnappers accused the man of being an informer to the 

police. The accused uploaded a video to the web shaming the man and accusing him of “treason”.

The prosecution clarified yesterday that the case will be heard before the High Criminal Court on February 8, adding that the 11 individuals are involved in this incident.

The Public Prosecution charged the suspects who are between 15 and 24 years old for torturing to get information under duress, damaging a car, stealing a mobile phone and beating the victim.

The case was referred to the court on December 14, 2016. It was heard on January 10 and adjourned to February 8 to inform the ten runaway suspects while remanding the first one in custody.

Minor tortured and raped

The last case involving seven suspects, occurred in August, 2015, when the suspects, aged 13 to 17, kidnapped a 16-year-old Bahraini boy from Sanabis village in the Capital Governorate.

The Public Prosecution referred the case to the High Criminal Court and the Juvenile Court on January 21, 2016.  

The adults received seven years in jail while the Juvenile Court ruled to keep the two minors at the Juvenile Care Centre and submit social reports on them every six months. 

The case of the adult suspects is being reviewed by the Court of Appeal and the verdict will be issued on February 27,” the statement added.