Bahrain Mirror: A Bahraini High Criminal Court, presided over by judge Mohammad bin Ali Al Khalifa and Abdullah Mohammad Hassan as secretariat, upheld a sentence against two appellants, who were present, and 7 others in absentia. The court of first instance had sentenced the defendants to 5 years in prison, over charges of forcing an Asian truck driver to unload the sand cargo on Al-Budai street after stabbing him and assaulting a policeman.

The court of first instance convicted 27 suspects and sentenced them to 5 years in prison for forcing an Asian truck driver to unload the sand cargo in Al-Budai street after stabbing him and assaulting a policeman.

The authorities claim that about 150 persons headed from Bani Jamra cemetery to the Budai street to assemble. They saw a truck carrying sand, so they stopped the driver and forced him to unload the sand cargo, aiming at disrupting traffic. When the driver refused to do so, one of the suspects opened the truck's door and stabbed him in his left thigh. The driver then unloaded the cargo and the suspects ordered the driver to leave. He waited for the security forces to transfer him to the hospital.

The authorities claim that the policemen were attacked by Molotov and metal rods while handling the protestors. A policeman sustained an injury in his knee.

The Public Prosecution accused the suspects of attacking the bodily integrity of a policeman while and because he was performing his duty. It also accused them of attacking, along with other suspects, the victim using a knife as well as taking part in an assembly of more than 5 persons, aiming at disrupting public peace and endangering people's lives and public properties. The prosecution also accused the suspects of having possession of explosives.

Arabic Version