Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini High Criminal Court sentenced 5 defendants to life imprisonment, after convicting them of detonating a bomb, having possession of explosives and destroying public properties in the Maameer area, also fining them 250 BD for the damages.

The authorities claim that on August 14, 2015, while policemen were in the village of Maameer  removing the barriers, a bomb exploded, causing damages to a vehicle owned by the Ministry of Interior. Consequently, the Criminal Investigation Department launched an investigation which led to identifying the suspects who allegedly acquired a locally-made bomb to detonate it as part of the so-called August 14 revolt. They further claim that the defendants planted the bomb in Maameer, aiming at killing and injuring the largest possible number of policemen and intimidating the residents of the area.

The public prosecution relied on the hearsay evidence, the attesting witnesses' testimonies, the defendants' statements and technical evidence.

Human rights organizations challenge the charges raised against the defendants, since they doubt the independence of the judiciary, whose members are assigned by royal decrees, and since it issues sentences based on confessions extracted under duress and evidence presented by secret investigations and anonymous witnesses.

Arabic Version