Court rejects vandal's appeal

Manama

An appellant convicted in connection with a fuel truck fire case saw his appeal rejected today.  The High Criminal Court had earlier sentenced him to five years behind bars for his crime.

 The defendant was charged alongside three others for allegedly carrying out an attack on a truck with diesel and firebombs on March 17, 2013 in Demistan.

 They reportedly pelted Molotov cocktails at the vehicle, along with other vandals, setting it ablaze. 

 Timely intervention prevented a major disaster as firemen quickly put out the blaze before the truck went up in flames.

 The driver and a passenger escaped unhurt in the attack as they got out of the fuel truck and fled when they saw a group of masked rioters approaching the vehicle holding firebombs.

 Deposing before the court, the driver had earlier pointed out that he had seen seven people who unleashed the attack.

 Two of the three other men were earlier sentenced to 10 years in jail each. Their imprisonment tenure, however, was commuted to five years on an appeal later.

The court had earlier acquitted the third accused due to lack of conclusive evidence.

 It's worth noting that the appellant was earlier held guilty in absentia, and he was captured after the conclusion of the trial before the High Criminal Court.