Court Sets August 14 for Verdict in Bahraini Man’s Drug Use and Fatal Traffic Accident Appeals

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Second Criminal Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing on August 14 to issue a verdict in the appeal of a Bahraini man sentenced to three years in prison for drug use. The same man is also facing a second verdict on the same day for a separate case, in which he was sentenced to six years for causing the deaths of three family members — a couple and their son — and seriously injuring two other children in a tragic traffic accident in the Sar area.

During the hearing, the defense lawyer, Ahmed Tawq, called for overturning the original verdict and the acquittal of his client. He argued that the initial ruling lacked solid evidence and reasoning, noting that the court’s claim about the presence of drugs in the defendant’s urine sample was not supported by any technical report in the case files. Tawq emphasized that the ruling was based on evidence that did not actually exist in the documents, making it flawed.

He also pointed out serious issues with the investigation process, stating that the search warrant and arrest request were issued after the defendant had already been detained for five days. This, according to the lawyer, proves the investigation was not genuine, rendering subsequent procedures invalid. Furthermore, Tawq said the court’s mention of a “caught in the act” scenario was inaccurate, as there was no such situation in the case.

The defense also raised the issue of double jeopardy, arguing that the defendant was being tried twice for the same offense related to drug use during the ongoing traffic case, which is also set for a ruling on August 14. Part of the accusation in the traffic case was that the man was driving under the influence of drugs, affecting his control of the vehicle.

Additionally, Tawq challenged the legality of the search conducted at the defendant’s home, saying it violated legal procedures. The search was carried out without the presence of the defendant or any household members, and the officers locked themselves inside the room and did not show the seized items to anyone afterward. The case files stated that a plastic bag with traces of cannabis was found, but there was no proof that the bag belonged to the defendant, nor was the exact amount of the substance measured.

Earlier, two separate courts had sentenced the man to a total of nine years in prison—six years for the traffic accident causing deaths and injuries, and three years for possession of drugs found at his residence.