SIXTEEN people jailed for being part of a foreign-backed terrorist cell that smuggled weapons and explosives into Bahrain have lost their final appeals.
The defendants, aged between 27 and 49, were found guilty of joining the illicit group, smuggling weapons into the country, carrying out terrorist attacks in the country and receiving weapons and explosives training in camps belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On February 20 last year, six of them were sentenced to life in prison, which carries a 25-year sentence, while another six were sentenced to 10 years each, three were jailed for three years each and one was jailed for five years.
A 26-year-old Bahraini businessman was previously cleared of all charges due to lack of evidence.
Among those convicted were three brothers – two jailed for life and the third for 10 years – said to have been trained on how to smuggle weapons and how to hide them inside water heaters.
The defendants who were found guilty then lodged appeals against their convictions at the Supreme Criminal Appeal Court which was rejected.
A final appeal at the Cassation Court was also rejected.
According to case files, the defendants placed, stored and smuggled weapons and explosives into the country via the sea from Iran.
Several of them also travelled to Iran to undergo militia training in rogue camps belonging to the IRGC between 2013 and 2017.
“The defendants implemented their devilish thoughts to cause havoc and spread fear amongst people and subvert security,” read the Cassation Court ruling.
“They targeted policemen and three of the defendants helped one of their co-defendants, who was wanted in connection to a terror-related case, to flee to Iran by boat.
“The defendants also smuggled and stashed weapons and explosives in Eker after smuggling them by boat from Iran in November 2016.
“They also placed the weapons and explosives in dead drops around the country for members of illicit groups to collect them.
“They also travelled to Iran where they received weapons and explosives training in camps belonging to the IRGC.
“The Cassation Court has kicked out their final appeals due to sufficient evidence against them.”
noorz@gdn.com.bh
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