SIU to probe death of Bahrain detainee

Manama : The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has launched an investigation into the death of a terrorism suspect.

Thirty-five-year-old Hassan Al Hayki, who was remanded at the Dry Dock in connection with the East Eker bombing, died of natural causes on Sunday, an official statement said earlier.

“We have questioned the  detainees in the deceased’s ward, as well as his father, in connection with the death,” SIU member Isa Al Mannai said in a statement yesterday.

“The unit has also ordered to conduct a postmortem to determine the exact causes of the death. Besides, the Forensic Science Laboratory has been notified to examine his  clothes to find out any evidence that might help the investigation,” he added.

Al Hayki was among the three suspects accused of masterminding the deadly East Eker blast on June 30. The bombing resulted in the death of a Bahraini woman and injured three of her children.

Though an official statement attributed the detainee’s death to cardiac arrest, the opposition parties claimed that he was subjected to torture.

“The deceased was remanded in custody pending ongoing investigations. The Public Prosecution had questioned him on July 12, but no remarks were made regarding any kind of torture or ill-treatment during interrogation.  The investigator  also didn’t notice any injuries,” Al Mannai clarified.

“The forensic expert, appointed by the Public Prosecution to examine the body, found no traces of injuries that would indicate criminal violence, resistance or tying,” he said.

Al Mannai added that the SIU would continue its investigations into the incident based on the findings of the coroner and the Forensic Science Laboratory.

In another development, the Ombudsman Office on its official Twitter account stated that it had been notified about the incident and had launched an investigation into the matter.