Death sentence of two Bahraini men upheld

One cop killed, five hurt in bomb blast in Dair last year

DT News Network

Manama

Two Bahrainis implicated in a bomb blast that killed an officer and injured five others have had their death sentences upheld.  Mohammed Ramadan Hussein, a 31-year-old former corporals head at Bahrain International Airport, and Hussein Moussa Mohammed, a 27-year-old former hotel employee, were convicted earlier of premeditated murder, attempted murder, detonating and possessing an explosive device, participating in an illegal gathering and possessing Molotov cocktails. 

Seven other men embroiled in this case have also lost their appeals against their 6-year-jail terms each. All the defendants were standing trial for their role in the murder of policeman Abdulwaheed Sayyed Mohammed Al Balooshi, 29, who suffered fatal chest injures in an explosion in Dair on February 14, 2014 which was the third anniversary of the unrest. 

Originally, twelve men were tried in connection with this case, but the other five defendants remain at large and were condemned in absentia. 

Four of them had earlier received six years in jail, while the their fifth accomplice, namely Mohammed Maki Ali was given life in prison. Those who were given six years in jail each were also fined BD1,000 each for participating in an illegal gathering and possessing firebombs, but were cleared of other charges. 

It's reported that Mr Hussein gave Mr Mohammed the bomb which he then planted and remotely detonated near a cold store in Dair on February 14. 

Mr Mohammed confessed that their third co-defendant (Mr Ali) sent him a message on his mobile phone through a programme called 'Kik' telling him about the plan to detonate a bomb and kill policemen on February 14 at 10.30pm, according to court files. 

The officer, who was not in uniform at the time of the attack, then allegedly participated in an illegal rally, composing of 60 people, to trick policemen to a trap, where the bomb was placed. The explosive went off while policemen were confronting the mob of people pelting firebombs, metal rods and projectiles. 

According to prosecutors, police confiscated weapons used in the crime, including residue of the bomb, which was a fire extinguisher connected to an electrical circuit and a mobile phone.

Mr Hussein earlier told judges that he was falsely accused in the case because he had previously taken part in illegal demonstrations. 

However, one of the defendants earlier told prosecutors that they carried out the attack in revenge and were aiming to kill policemen.

The deceased was expecting his first child at the time of his death.

He is survived by two brothers, who also work in the Interior Ministry, two sisters and his parents.