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Arson suspects deny charges
By Noor Toorani
Published: 3rd June 2008
THIRTEEN alleged saboteurs appeared in the High Criminal Court for the second day in a row yesterday, this time in connection with an arson attack on a farm belonging to a senior member of the royal family. They were among 19 suspects who appeared in the same court on Sunday charged with murdering a policeman.
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Arson suspects deny charges
By Noor Toorani
Published: 3rd June 2008
THIRTEEN alleged saboteurs appeared in the High Criminal Court for the second day in a row yesterday, this time in connection with an arson attack on a farm belonging to a senior member of the royal family. They were among 19 suspects who appeared in the same court on Sunday charged with murdering a policeman.
Police are still trying to track down two other men in connection with the arson, after those in custody implicated them in their testimony.
The court issued warrants for their arrest during the hearing yesterday, which was the first time the 13 appeared in court in connection with the arson attack.
All pleaded not guilty just a day after they, along with six others, pleaded not guilty to murdering Pakistani policeman Majid Asghar Ali Kareem Baksh, 24, in a Molotov cocktail attack.
In their testimony yesterday, the men once again claimed confessions were beaten out of them by police and accused prison officers of denying them food and water.
A Public Prosecution representative denied all allegations of abuse and again accused the suspects of fabricating stories.
However, the court did agree to defence lawyers’ requests to allow a medical committee to examine the suspects for signs of abuse and torture.
But the hearing ran over schedule by more than two hours after their relatives caused chaos, screaming and crying while the men testified.
The court also heard witness statements from two Indian labourers, aged 30 and 32, who worked at the farm belonging to Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa.
A Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) investigator also gave details of the police investigation.
“Evidence gathered from the scene of the crime indicated that Molotov cocktails were thrown everywhere and we also found pieces of burned glass,” he told the court.
The court yesterday adjourned the case until July 7 to give defence lawyers time to submit papers and for a review of medical reports.
However, it refused a request to release the men on bail.
They are accused of setting ablaze a majlis, a bookcase, three vehicles, a horse cart and the stable after breaking into the farm through the main gate.
Shaikh Abdul Aziz previously said the farm had been targeted by rioters since 2002.
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http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=219209&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31075
