Public Prosecution shelves 15 complaints

Manama, May 1 (BNA): The Public Prosecution has shelved 15 lawsuits filed by the Council of Representatives Speaker against owners of social media accounts who were accused of defaming the council online. Advocate General and Acting Attorney General Wael Bualley pointed out that the remaining lawsuits are still under investigation, adding that the owners of the accounts would be summoned, once identified by the competent security authorities to question them and hear their defence. He said that the Public Prosecution would take its decisions based on results of the investigation and in compliance with the provisions of the law. He underlined the need to differentiate between maintaining the status of public institutions and the freedom of opinion and expression in accordance with well-defined criteria. He said that the Public Prosecution scrutinized each complaint separately to take the adequate measures, stressing keenness on protecting the prestige of the elected council without prejudicing the freedom of expression and opinion. “The Public Prosecution bases its investigation of the cases on the criteria stipulated in the constitution, law provisions and international covenants”, he said.