Manama: The High Criminal Court today issued a ruling in a case involving espionage on behalf of a hostile foreign state, convicting two defendants of spying for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organisation, and persons acting on its behalf, in order to assist in its hostile and terrorist activities against the Kingdom of Bahrain and harm its interests.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the court sentenced both defendants to life imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of the seized items, a statement by the Deputy Chief Prosecutor for Terrorism Crimes said.
The Public Prosecution had received a report from the Anti-Cybercrime Directorate concerning the monitoring of a social media account containing statements supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain. Investigations led to the identification and arrest of the person operating the account, who admitted to managing it and communicating with a defendant who had fled the country, providing him with coordinates and locations within the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Public Prosecution immediately commenced an investigation into the report, questioning the defendant present in Bahrain, who admitted to the charges brought against him. It also heard witness statements and assigned technical experts to examine the seized electronic device. The examination confirmed that the defendants had committed the acts attributed to them.
Accordingly, the Public Prosecution referred the defendants to the High Criminal Court, which considered the case over several hearings during which all legally prescribed safeguards were observed, including the presence of lawyer for the defendant present in Bahrain and enabling him to present his defence. The court subsequently issued its ruling at today's hearing.
The Public Prosecution stressed that safeguarding the Kingdom's security and national interests requires confronting all forms of unlawful cooperation or communication with hostile entities. It affirmed that it would continue to exercise its legal mandate in pursuing those who commit such crimes and referring them to the courts, ensuring the application of the law and accountability for anyone proven to have committed acts that could undermine the Kingdom's security or harm its interests.