A Bahraini High Appeal Court on Tuesday issued a ruling against 13 defendants in case of conspiracy, espionage and constitutional violations and attempt to overthrow the regime during the unrest of February 2011.
Addressing a Press the head of the official maintained that the evidence showed that accused had ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.
The High Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 against the defendants in the case of conspiracy to overthrow the government, espionage and violation of the Constitution. Sentences were issued against thirteen (13) defendants in their presence. Seven (7) other defendants are wanted fugitives subject to previous sentences and are still at large.
The 13 defendants are:
1-Abdulwahab Hussein Ahmed, life sentence upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, conspiring to overthrow the government, and espionage; 2- Hassan Ali Hassan Mushaime, life sentence upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, participation in a conspiracy to overthrow the government, and espionage; 3-Mohamed Habeeb Al Saffaf (alias Almoqdad) life sentence upheld for violation of the Constitution, and conspiring to overthrow the government. Found not guilty of the charge of espionage; 4-Ibrahim Shareef Abdulrahim Moussa Sentence to a prison term of five (5) years upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, and conspiring to overthrow the government; 5-Abduljaleel Radhi Mansour life sentence upheld for violation of the Constitution, conspiring to overthrow the government, espionage, and other charges; 6- Abduljaleel Abdullah Yousef Al Singace life sentence upheld for violation of the Constitution, conspiring to overthrow the government, espionage, and other charges; 7-Said Mirza Ahmad (alias Al-Nouri) life sentence upheld for violation of the Constitution, conspiring to overthrow the government, espionage, and other charges; 8-Abdulhadi Abdullah Mahdi Al Mokhawdhar: Sentence to a prison term of fifteen (15) years upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, and conspiring to overthrow the government; 9- Abdullah Isa Al Mahrous – Sentence to a prison term of fifteen (15) years upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, and conspiring to overthrow the government. Found not guilty of the charge of espionage; 10- Abdulhadi Abdullah Hobail Al Khawaja life sentence upheld for violation of the Constitution, conspiring to overthrow the government, espionage, and other charges; 11-Salah Abdullah Hobail Al Khawaja – Sentence to a prison term of five (5) years upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, and conspiring to overthrow the government. Found not guilty of the charge of incitement to overthrow the government; 12- Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Jawad – Sentence to a prison term of fifteen (15) years upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution. Found not guilty of the charge of conspiring to overthrow the government and 13- Mohamed Ali Radhi Ismail – Sentence to a prison term of fifteen (15) years upheld for the charges of: violation of the Constitution, and conspiring to overthrow the government.
The Court provided all assurances of a fair trial through a team of 17 defense attorneys selected by the defendants. The trial was attended by many diplomats of various nationalities, including representatives of the embassies of the United Kingdom, France, United States, Denmark and Sweden, as well as representatives of human rights and other civil society organizations, including International Crisis Group and Amnesty International, with local and foreign media coverage.
The defendants received full medical care during their incarceration. The Court provided all their health requirements upon their request and at all times.
The Court also accepted the defendants request that while on the stand, contrary to what are common practice in the most parts of the world, they be allowed to sit by their lawyers sides without any restriction on their freedoms.
On the other hand, the attorneys were allowed full access to meet with the defendants before and after the trials. Their meetings were not limited to individual sessions between the two parties only. The Court allowed the attorneys to hold group sessions with the defendants, which is not the common practice. The Court deemed it appropriate to facilitate this aspect in support of the requisites of a fair trial.
Each of the defendants was given the opportunity to speak in their own defense. Some of the defendants spoke at times for over two consecutive hours. Moreover, the defendants read over forty pages in their defense.
In accordance with Bahrain’s Code of Criminal Procedure, the defendants are fully entitled to appeal their sentences to the Supreme Court.