A BAHRAINI man has gone on trial for punching a police officer who tried to arrest him during a drug bust.

The 22-year-old defendant appeared at the High Criminal Court yesterday where he, and another defendant, aged 21, were charged with possessing and using methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, and hashish.

A third defendant, a 16-year-old Bahraini, who is at large was also charged with possessing and using Midazolam pills, a psychotropic substance used to treat anxiety and inducing sleep, a controlled substance in many countries.

A secret source provided information that the 22-year-old was selling shabu, so a sting operation was set up on April 2 at 6pm near Jasmi’s close to Al Najma Club in Juffair.

According to court documents, an undercover officer went to the driver, the 22-year-old, and handed him money in exchange for a clear bag which contained the narcotics worth BD140.

The defendant was followed until he reached Al Jazira Supermarket in Juffair and picked up the other two defendants.

According to case documents, the officers tried to arrest them and that is when the 22-year-old punched the officer and the three ran away but only two were arrested after a chase.

“When we were in the car, suddenly the police appeared and one of them grabbed me,” the 22-year-old told prosecutors in a statement.

“So I pushed him and ran away and the police officers then arrested me.”

Upon searching their vehicle, a bong was found along with three Larica pills and a scale.

The 22-year-old admitted to using the drugs but denied selling them, and also admitted to owning the bong but claimed the drugs in the car were not his.

Both defendants admitted to using narcotics and buying their shabu from a Pakistani dealer.

A search of the 21-year-old’s residence revealed a bong, four dirty needles and some pharmaceutical pills.

“We called the 22-year-old to come pick us up and drop off the 16-year-old to Hamad Town,” he told prosecutors in a statement.

“When we were refuelling the police arrived and all three of them ran away.”

“I stayed in the car and was arrested but the rest were arrested after a chase.”

The case was adjourned to September 3 for lawyers to study the documents, and to provide a lawyer for the 21-year-old and issue a warrant for the 16-year-old.

reem@gdn.com.bh