Appeals rejected

Ten Bahraini defendants, convicted of planting a fake bomb in front of the German Embassy in Manama, have had their appeals rejected.

They were among the 17 men who were held guilty earlier in connection with this case. But only 10 are in police custody as others are still at large and were tried in absentia. Nine of the Bahrainis were given seven years in jail each, while five convicts were sentenced to five years in prison each and the rest received three years imprisonment each.

Apart from carrying out a hoax, the Bahraini men were held guilty of different charges, including rioting, burning tyres, and possessing firebombs as well as participating in an illegal gathering. The prosecutors had earlier sent 27 to trial in connection with this case. However, the High Criminal Court cleared 10 men of all the charges due to lack of evidence. Investigations also found that three of the defendants - who received seven years in jail - were responsible for hiding fugitives in an apartment in Akir. And the judges gave them an additional six months in prison after finding them guilty of running the safe house.