Hefty fine, jail term for three February 14 members

Manama : The High Criminal Court yesterday convicted three for establishing and funding the activities of a terrorist group in the Kingdom, Terror Crime Prosecution Chief, Mish’al Al Mannae said. The trio was sentenced for joining terrorist organisation ‘February 14’ Coalition between 2015 and 2018. The court also ordered the revocation of their citizenship. The first defendant was given a life term and a BD100,000 fine, while the second and third defendants were awarded fifteen years each and a BD100,000 fine.

According to court files, the first defendant was the local leader of the  February 14 Coalition designated as a terrorist organisation by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt. He reportedly spearheaded illegal demonstrations and riots in the Sar village, while carrying the terrorist organisation’s flag. In 2015, he, however, managed to flee to Iran by the sea and oversaw activities from there in coordination with other leaders living outside the Kingdom. Investigators found that he was also instrumental in recruiting local members as well as financing their activities. He also succeeded in recruiting the second and third defendants.

“He communicated with me through WhatsApp and Snapchat. One day he asked me to go to the Al Montazer yard to receive money. I went there and collected the amount. After a few days, he asked me to transfer that money to the Imam Ali Mosque in Sar. After five days, he again requested me to collect an envelope containing BD4000 from the same place,” the third defendant told prosecutors.

“On the next day, the second defendant came to me and took the money. I realised that he was a member of the coalition too,” he added. Meanwhile, third defendant continued receiving money and was distributing them to others. “In September 2017, I was asked to receive BD7500 from the same mosque. I was asked to put it into envelopes and hand them over to other members. Communication was through Telegram app. I was also asked to snap pictures of locations and send them to him,” he told prosecutors.