AP – Published by Gulf News: 10:17 January 8, 2014
Lawyer says Al Oraibi was playing in a televised match when the November 2012 incident took place.
Manama: The defence lawyer of a player for Bahrain’s national football team says his client has been sentenced along with eight others to 10 years in prison on charges of burning a police station.
Lawyer Mohammad Al Motawa says the nine were also found guilty of participating in an illegal gathering and possessing firebombs.
Al Motawa says 20-year-old Hakeem Al Oraibi was playing in a televised match when the November 2012 incident took place in which dozens of protesters attacked a police station in the capital, Manama. Al Oraibi was detained for four months after the attack.
Bahraini opposition groups are demanding greater rights from the government.
Al Oraibi is currently in neighbouring Qatar with the Bahraini team for a match. His lawyer said on Tuesday that Al Oraibi will likely be arrested upon return.