A REQUEST to release all suspects in a case involving the illegal sale of prescription pills due to fears over the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) has been denied.
A well-known Bahraini doctor and six others are standing trial at the High Criminal Court for allegedly making large amounts of money by running an illegal racket selling on the black market pills used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and anxiety disorder.
The consultant neurologist is said to have reportedly forged prescriptions for Lyrica pills while his accomplices sold the drugs on the streets at inflated prices.
The seven defendants appeared in court yesterday where they had earlier denied charges of dealing in prescription pills.
Defence lawyer Nabeel Al Musafer, representing the Bahraini defendants, said the defendants’ lives were at risk in case Covid-19 spread in jail.
“My clients’ parents are not allowed to visit them in jail and we suspect there is something wrong going on,” he told a leading judge.
“I request my clients be released because of the serious situation concerning the coronavirus.”
All five defence lawyers backed Mr Musafer’s request which was, however, rejected by the leading judge.
Meanwhile, a Public Prosecution representative presented his final arguments in court, saying the doctor’s greed led him to committing the crime.
“We thought about what would make a famous doctor with a good position in society commit such a crime and we found that his greed had led him to do this,” he said.
“He and his co-defendants illegally sold thousands of Lyrica pills in the black market and made a lot of money.
“He wrote prescriptions for people not in Bahrain and with the help of his co-defendants sold it in the black market.
“We request the maximum punishment for the defendants.”
Two of the co-defendants, Egyptian nationals, who worked at the doctor’s pharmacy, have been accused of helping him sell the drugs, while three Bahrainis and an Indian national are on trial for aiding and abetting.
An investigating officer who previously testified in court said the 55-year-old consultant ordered his co-defendants to bring him CPRs to help him forge the prescriptions.
The doctor denied he headed the racket and said he only dealt with his 50-year-old co-defendant as a patient.
Another man, a BDF personnel, is standing trial separately in a military court in connection with the case.
The trial has been adjourned until March 18 for a ruling.
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