The High Criminal Court has raised the charges against three police men originally charged with manslaughter in the deaths of three men in February and March of 2011. The defendants, including one police lieutenant, are now facing murder charges in the deaths of Ali Ahmed Abdulla, Isa Abdul Hassan and Hani Abdulaziz Goma in three separate incidences.
The court was originally scheduled to issue verdicts in the cases but upon further investigation decided to raise the charges against the policemen. The cases were adjourned to July 10th.
“If found guilty of the original charge of manslaughter, the maximum sentence would be seven years, however, murder charges carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. If convicted of murder, employees of the Ministry of Interior are likely to receive the toughest penalties allowed by law,” Information Affairs Authority (IAA) in a statement said.
In another case, IAA statement added, a policeman was tried in absentia and convicted of assault in a shooting case involving a protestor, resulting in birdshot injuries to the leg. The policeman has been sentenced to five years in prison, but is currently hospitalized for severe injuries he sustained in an explosive attack on police in Duraz on April 24th.