Terror suspects sentenced

Manama, June 29 (BNA): Chief of the Terror Crime Prosecution Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi said the High Criminal Court today sentenced six defendants to life in jail and two defendants to 15 years in prison. The defendants were accused of intelligence with Iran, setting up a terror group and joining it, training on the use of weapons and explosives and smuggling weapons and ammunition by the sea for terror purposes. The court also ruled the revocation of their citizenship and the confiscation of the seized items The defendants were arrested on July 15 following a notification from the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) on the formation of a terror cell in Bahrain taking charge of smuggling weapons and explosives by the sea to use them in acts of terror in Bahrain. The group received military training in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard brigades on using weapons and explosives as well as boats to smuggle them by the sea. One defendant also exchanged intelligence information with a person working for Iran to carry out terror acts against Bahrain. The defendants were arrested and questioned by the Public Prosecution. The Public Prosecution relied in substantiating the charges on verbal evidences including testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, the defendants’ confession and technical evidences. The defendants, including five in custody, were referred to the High Criminal Court which tried them in the presence of their lawyers and after providing them with all legal guarantees. The verdict can be appealed before the Court of Appeal and, subsequently, the Cassation Court which are legal guarantees provided for every defendant in Bahrain.