BAHRAIN’S highest court yesterday upheld a life term for a Bahraini man previously convicted of smuggling 50kg of hashish from Iran.
The 43-year-old Bahraini was previously sentenced to death after being found guilty by the High Criminal Court of importing and possessing the drug with the intent to distribute.
He was also fined BD100,000.
Upon appealing the case at the High Criminal Appeals Court, his death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. The Cassation Court yesterday upheld that verdict.
The GDN previously reported that the 43-year-old was arrested in March last year following a police investigation, aided by a Bahraini suspect from a separate narcotics case who provided detectives with vital information about an Iran drugs link and offered to take part in a sting operation.
The informant revealed that the defendant was working with an Iranian national known by the nickname ‘Abu Redha’ who had also approached him.
Under the supervision of police investigators, he set up a three-stage plan with the Iranian national to bring a large shipment of hashish into Bahrain.
Abu Redha agreed to drop two barrels containing the contraband at a specified location at sea and send the co-ordinates.
The shipment would be deposited at another location and Abu Redha would forward details of the drop to the defendant to pick up and distribute.
Court documents revealed that following a search of the defendant’s car prescription pills were found alongside SIM cards, plus BD1,600 in cash and 1,200 Saudi riyals (BD120).
A Public Prosecution authorised search of the defendant’s home in Karranah yielded various amounts of cash, a GPS device, a satellite-connected mobile phone and memory cards.
The money found included BD1,600, 96,000 Saudi riyals (BD9,600), 1,295 Emirati dirhams (BD143) and 3,750 Thai baht (BD36).
The phone allowed communication even when there was no connection to cell towers through mobile-satellite services, the court heard. The 43-year-old previously admitted to the Public Prosecution of his intent to market and sell the drugs in Bahrain, in co-operation with Abu Redha.
He also admitted that the two had previously worked together on a similar venture in 2019, where they agreed on a deal to sell 10kg of hashish for BD8,000.
The defendant stated that this time around, he was promised BD200 per kg of hashish trafficked. Additionally, he told the Public Prosecution of his successful collaboration with a Saudi Arabian man, where he was tasked with arranging for ‘dead drops’ and received BD300 per operation.
A scan of the Bahraini convict’s mobile data showed several conversations with other drug traffickers, and correspondences with Abu Redha, including videos of contraband and voice messages.
The court was told that the Bahraini first entered the drugs world in 2005.
He had a prior conviction in 2018 for possession and the sale of hashish which was taken into account when the verdict was reached.
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