Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini Supreme Court of Appeals upheld the 15-year jail term issued against a 17-year old boy, accused of attempting to kill a policeman in Sanabis and joining Al-Mukhtar Brigade.

The Public Prosecution stated that the suspect on December 31, 2014 attempted to kill a policeman, claiming that he prepared a gun and headed to the place where the patrols are usually present and opened fire at them intending to kill any of them. It also accused him of acquiring explosives for a terrorist aim.

The authorities say that an unknown suspect fired bullets at the policemen on the eve of 2015 New Year. Thus, the policemen fired shotgun pellets in the direction of shooting. The suspect; however, fled and the police officers chased him into Sanabes. As he was running away, the suspect dropped a bag.

The authorities also claimed that they found two mobile phones, a bag containing 15 bullets, a black mask, a gun magazine containing 5 bullets, 6 empty envelopes, 1000 Saudi Riyals and 250 Dinars inside the bag that the suspect dropped. Their investigations revealed that these seized objects are owned by the suspect who was arrested and confessed to committing the crime and joining"Al-Mukhtar Brigade".

Human rights organizations challenge the charges raised against the suspects 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 Issue