An alleged mastermind of forming armed gangs and attacking Asian communities during February aimed at expelling these communities out of Manama appeared before the Criminal Court. The Military Public Prosecutor issued permission to publish details of the national safety court trials regarding a number of cases heard on Monday.
Regarding the first case, the National Safety (Criminal) Court considered the charges of forming and joining an armed gang, inter alia, with purpose of assault and battery against other people and unlicensed assembling, for which seventeen defendants were accused.
The military prosecutor allowed to publish details of the Court of the National Safety in the said case, the court heard the witnesses at the request of the defense attorney.
One prosecution witness, an investigation officer, gave his testimony stating that he had received several communications to the effect that a number of people attacked the Asian community in Manama, after the events of February 14, 2011 AD, explaining that he had been conducting the necessary investigations through confidential sources in order to reach and to arrest the culprits.
The prosecution witness confirmed that the first defendant, Muhammad Habib al-Miqdad had instigated the forming of an armed gang to terrorize Asians and expel them out of Manama. The investigating officer also admitted the correctness of the records of the investigation, stressing that the investigation began after receiving complaints from Asian victims.
Questions posed by the prosecution to the defense witness focused on the identification of the crime scene, the date of its occurrence and the nature of the security situation at the time of occurrence in order to determine the number of people in the crowd at that time and whether the investigation has reached to determine the expressions used to instigate an assault on Asians and whether there was any connection between the defendants and how the defendants were apprehended and whether the witness has personally inspected the crime scene.
In a question posed by the defense regarding determination of the nature and means of incitement used by the first defendant, Muhammad Habib al- Miqdad, an officer investigating said that al-Miqdad used to urge attacks on Asians when he made speeches at the then GCC Roundabout since February 14, 2011 AD, together with rioting, sabotage and banditry at the time of the incident.
Then the court decided to adjourn the case until Monday’s session on September 19, 2011 AD so as to summon the rest of the prosecution witnesses.
And regarding the second case, the National Safety (Criminal) Court resumed to consider the issue of attempted murder and unlawful rallying, whereas six were accused in this case.
With permission from the military prosecutor it was allowed to publish details of the National Safety Court trials, whereas the court heard two confirmation witnesses at the request of the defense.
Statements taken from two witnesses included evidence that they saw the incident when a group of people attacked residents in one of the areas and that they carried wooden sticks. They also gave their confirmation testimony before the court hearing whereas in answer to a question if they could identify any of present defendants, the first witness – son of a victim -pinpointed the first and fifth defendants however the second witness identified the first defendant only then both confirmation witnesses were cross-examined by the defense attorney.
The court decided to adjourn the case until Thursday’s session on September 15, 2011 AD to hear defense witnesses. The court hearing was attended by Mohamed Al-Sumaikh from Bahrain Human Rights Society, representatives from the media as well as a number of families of the accused.