Terror convicts’ sentences upheld

The First High Criminal Court of Appeal yesterday upheld the ten years imprisonment sentence issued against two Bahrainis, who were earlier convicted of taking part in assaulting a civilian police vehicle in Eker and torching it. However, the court revoked the citizenship cancellation sentence issued against the men earlier.

According to court files, both defendants joined others in intercepting a civilian police vehicle that entered East Eker village to arrest a wanted individual. They blocked the roads around the car and attacked it using wooden planks and rocks before torching it. They also stole the battery of the car as shown in the investigation.

Eyewitnesses’ testimonies proved that both defendants were responsible for the attack, which completely damaged the vehicle. The investigation showed that the defendants’ motive behind the crime was to target policemen, spreading chaos in the country, jeopardising and destabilising security serving terrorist purposes.

Some of the other defendants who were involved in the case were arrested and firearms and ammunition was found in their possession at the time of the arrest. An arrestee also led the cops to a weapons warehouse in the area, where materials used in the manufacturing of explosives was also found.

On January 23, 2017, the Public Prosecution charged the suspects of torching property and risking people’s lives and properties serving a terrorist purpose. The other charges included illegal gathering, destabilising security, and possessing weapons and explosives.