Nine people have been jailed for life in two separate cases after being found guilty of collaborating with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out terrorist acts in Bahrain.
Two others were also jailed for three years by the High Criminal Court yesterday.
According to authorities, the first case stemmed from a report on a fugitive suspect wanted for working with the IRGC, following investigations by the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Evidence.
Findings showed that the suspect – the first defendant – recruited an accomplice in Bahrain and tasked him with monitoring and photographing vital facilities, as well as collecting sensitive information.
On these instructions, the second defendant rented hotel rooms and flats, conducted surveillance of a key facility, and transmitted the information back to the first defendant.
A third defendant, who worked in exchange services, financial transfers and cryptocurrencies and operated an office in Iran, was also implicated. He used Iranian and Bahraini bank accounts to channel funds provided by the first defendant in Iranian toman, converting and distributing them in Bahraini dinars to members of the organisation to support the activities.
The fourth and fifth defendants repeatedly accompanied the second defendant during these assignments, providing cover and helping divert suspicion. Authorities said both were fully aware of the terrorist nature of the activities.
Meanwhile, in the second case, an investigation by the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Evidence revealed that a defendant, still at large, recruited an accomplice within the kingdom and persuaded him to act on behalf of the IRGC in pursuit of terrorist objectives.
The main suspect tasked the accomplice with monitoring a vital facility and gathering intelligence. He was also instructed to identify and recruit local individuals to carry out terrorist plots.
The accomplice subsequently recruited four additional defendants, assigning them roles that included surveillance of key facilities, photographing and documenting sites, and supplying information to the IRGC.
Following reports on the terror plots, the Public Prosecution launched an immediate investigation, leading to the arrest of all the defendants.
The accused were questioned, electronic devices were examined by technical experts, and statements were recorded from witnesses, including investigating officers.
Investigations concluded that the defendants had provided the IRGC with critical data that formed a basis for hostile and terrorist acts targeting several vital facilities in the kingdom, posing a threat to its security and stability.
The defendants were referred to the High Criminal Court, which heard the cases over several sessions in the presence of defence lawyers, who were given full opportunity to present their arguments.
The court yesterday issued its verdict following weeks of deliberation.
The GDN previously reported that the High Criminal Court sentenced two defendants to life imprisonment and a fine of BD10,000 for spying for the IRGC in a case that also included a plot to monitor vital installations in Bahrain.
A defendant in Iran recruited an accomplice in Bahrain to manage transport of funds and provide intelligence to Iranian agencies.
Meanwhile, a woman was also sentenced earlier this month to life imprisonment for collaborating with the IRGC after she was found guilty of using social media to share co-ordinates and images of vital sites in Bahrain to facilitate hostile acts.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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