The National Safety Court heard seven criminal cases, the Military Prosecutor in a statement said.
In the first case, Sadeq Taher Ibrahim stood trial over attempted murder, protesting illegally and inciting the hatred of the ruling system.
The court decided, at the defence team’s request, to adjourn the case to July 4 in order to hear witnesses.
The seven people involved in the March 13th University of Bahrain (UoB)’s incidents reappeared at the court over deliberate arson, attempted murder, spoiling UoB buildings, holding Molotov cocktails, attacking people and theft for some of them.
During the hearing, the Military Prosecution delivered its final pleading, asserting that the suspects got rid of all ethical and human values and committed “atrocious” crimes aiming to ruin the students’ future.
It also supported its arguments with the defendants’ own confessions, as well as the testimonies of the witnesses, requesting the court to inflict the “most severe” punishment on them.
The defence, however, asserted that investigations conducted by the Military Prosecution did not provide material evidence of their involvement in the incidents, and defence witnesses’ testimonies showed that they were not present at the crime scene, which, they insisted, is proof of the defendants’ innocence.
The verdict will be issued on Thursday, July 7.
Concerning the case of the 22 people accused of calling for the overthrow of the political system, spreading malicious and fabricated news and rumours, transmitting pictures that are harmful to the kingdom’s image, protesting illegally and holding swords, the court allowed the lawyers to have access to bill of indictment and meet the suspects and decided to hold the next hearing on June 28.
The court also heard the case of Ahmed Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed, charged of blowing up a gas cylinder.
He will have to hire a lawyer before reappearing at the court next Wednesday, June 29.
The case of Matar Ibrahim Ali Matar, who failed to show up at the court today, was also examined. During the session, the Military Prosecutor submitted a written pleading to the court, asserting that it has compelling evidence of the suspect’s guilt of inciting the hatred of the ruling system, deliberately spreading fabricated news, protesting illegally and organizing marches.
It demanded the court to inflict the “most severe sentence” on the defendant.
The defence lawyers argued otherwise.
They insisted that Matar Ibrahim was innocent of charges, stressing that all procedures taken so far against him were “illegal” as “he enjoyed parliamentary immunity” during unrest. They also said that the demonstrations in which the suspect took part were “licensed”. The verdict will be issued next July 5.
In the sixth case, the 19 defendants denied the charges of attempting to occupy the Khamis Police Station, ransacking it and setting fire to it, as well as inciting the hatred of the ruling system, protesting illegally, using violence and holding and making Molotov cocktails.
The Military Prosecution, on the other hand, insisted that the suspects’ confessions and investigation reports are enough evident to indict them.
The court accepted the lawyers’ request to summon evidence witnesses during the next session scheduled for July 5th, too, and allowed two suspects to hire lawyers. Those accused of kidnapping security officer Mohammed Nayef Falah and hiding him and his belongings and calling others to commit crimes were also tried today.
One witness- a detective- approved the investigation report and told the court that the crime was caused amid calls for kidnapping policemen, asserting that Mohammed Habib Miqdad incited the suspects to commit their crime.
He also said that the victim recognized one suspect 100% but failed to do so with the rest.
The 13 defendants will face the same charges on Thursday, June 23. The victim, as well as other evidence witnesses will be summoned, as requested by the defence.
Present were Salman Nasser from the Gulf European Center for Human Rights, as well as some relatives of the defendants and the victims.