TWO brothers and another man have been awaiting their trial at the High Criminal Court since June 30 on a variety of drug possession charges.
The three Bahrainis are in the dock for allegedly dealing in methamphetamine – locally known as shabu – and they were taken into custody from Muharraq after being caught in a string operation.
The GDN previously reported that a 31-year-old security guard was accused of selling the mind-altering drug, while his brother, age 38, and another man, age 20, have been accused of using hashish and shabu.
The elder brother, who is a registered job-seeker, told the Public Prosecution about his brother’s dealings which were arranged through instant messaging app Snapchat.
“I don’t sell drugs but I have been using for years. However, I stopped and tried to get clean two months before my arrest,” the 38-year-old told prosecutors in his statement.
“I would buy 0.25gms from my brother (the 31-year-old) for around BD5 to BD10 and sometimes he would give it to me for free but I knew he was selling to others.
“He would speak to his customers through Snapchat and they would come to our house for the exchange but I wasn’t involved.
“After I quit drugs I developed an alcohol addiction.”
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old student – who has attended all trial hearings and remains free – told the Public Prosecution that he developed a drug habit because of the 31-year-old.
In his statement, he stated that the 31-year-old would get the shabu from Pakistani dealers but he wasn’t involved in the distribution.
“The 31-year-old got me hooked on shabu which he used to give to me for free in the past,” he said in his statement.
“Once I got addicted he started charging me for it.”
Court documents show that the 31-year-old man accused in this case already had arrest warrants for prior drug-related charges.
The GDN previously reported that despite being at large when the trial first began, he eventually joined his brother in prison after he was taken into custody following police summons.
During their last appearance at the High Criminal Court last month the trio’s lawyer failed to appear at the hearing and she was fined BD50 by the court.
The trial, which had been facing delays since its first session on June 30, was again adjourned to Wednesday to appoint a lawyer for the 31-year-old.
reem@gdnmedia.bh
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