Interior Ministry: Public Security affiliates acquitted in 67% of the cases

Manama, Nov.26 (BNA): The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has so far referred 45 cases involving public security affiliates to relevant courts since its inception three years ago. "The courts have acquitted the defendants in 23 cases and issued 12 convictions while 10 other cases are still pending", said Interior Ministry Legal Affairs Director Lieutenant-Colonel Rashid Mohammed Bunajma. He was responding to a local newspaper report which said that a number of public security personnel are serving their sentences following cases which were lodged against them. In a statement today, he said that the courts issued acquittals in 67 per cent(67%) of the cases which were referred to them. "The convictions represent individual cases, which do not reflect the heavy duties and responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior to protect national security and ensure the safety of citizens and residents", he said. He cited the directives of the Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa to maintain and abide by international standards of accountability and transparency. He said that all public security affiliates are firmly committed to the police code of conduct and stressed the ministry’s drive to intensify internal and external human rights courses. He affirmed the enforcement of Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of inmates as endorsed by the United Nations. Lt-Col. Bunajma said that the Legal Affairs follows-up all court sentences against a number of Public Security affiliates as part of work to remedy to any loopholes, if any.