Manama : The Head of the Terrorism Crimes Prosecution announced that the High Criminal Court issued judgments today in four separate cases, convicting 14 defendants of joining terrorist groups and acting in their interest by carrying out hostile and terrorist acts against the Kingdom of Bahrain and harming its interests.
The court sentenced eight defendants to life imprisonment and six others to 15 years’ imprisonment. It also imposed fines of up to BD100,000 on some of the defendants and ordered the confiscation of funds and seized items.
The Head of the Terrorism Crimes Prosecution said that the cases originated from information that was subsequently confirmed through investigations conducted by the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science. The investigations established that the defendants had joined terrorist groups involved in carrying out terrorist plots targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain with the aim of undermining public order, endangering the Kingdom’s security, safety and economy, harming individuals, spreading fear among the public, and preventing state institutions and public authorities from carrying out their duties.
Investigations also revealed that the defendants had been assigned to carry out various terrorist tasks within the Kingdom and to transport, receive and deliver funds intended to support and finance terrorist elements affiliated with those groups.
The Public Prosecution launched investigations immediately upon receiving the reports. It questioned the defendants apprehended inside the Kingdom, heard witness testimony, and assigned technical experts to examine the seized electronic devices. The examination results confirmed the findings of the investigations. The investigations concluded that the roles undertaken by the defendants as members of those terrorist groups constituted a key component in the execution of terrorist acts that endangered the Kingdom’s security and stability.
Based on the findings of the investigations, the Public Prosecution referred the defendants to the High Criminal Court, which heard the cases over several hearings during which all legal guarantees, foremost among them the defendants’ right to defence, were upheld before issuing the judgments.
The Public Prosecution emphasised its commitment to confronting all terrorist crimes with firmness, pursuing those responsible, and taking deterrent legal measures against those proven to be involved, in order to safeguard the security, stability and interests of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
