14 referred to criminal trial in Bahrain on charges of spying for Iran's IRGC
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]Bahrain's Public Prosecutor has ordered referring 14 defendants in four separate spying cased to criminal trial, the country's state news agency said, adding that some of them are fugitives in Iran.The referrals follow investigations that led to proving that the defendants formed separate cells in three of those cases, while the fourth case involves a female defendant. The announcement comes as the US-Israel Iran war entered its Day 27.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.Conspiracy chargesThe 14 defendants were charged with crimes of seeking and conspiring with Iran's IRGC with the intent of carrying out hostile and warlike acts against Bahrain, providing assistance to it in its hostile activities, and receiving, delivering and transferring funds to support such operations. One of them received military training at camps run by Guards.The arrested also shared information considered among the country’s defense secrets, and spread false news and malicious rumors aimed at causing panic among citizens and residents, as well as promoting, glorifying and encouraging the hostile acts being carried out against the Kingdom.Investigations in the four cases came after reports that indicated that amid the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom, the defendants—who are organizationally affiliated with terrorist groups and formed separate cells—had received assignments from members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps closely linked to it and recruited by it.They were tasked with monitoring and photographing a number of vital facilities and sites and gathering information about them in preparation for targeting them. "The defendants carried out the assignments given to them and sent the images and information they obtained to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which then used them in carrying out hostile operations against the Kingdom, during which buildings and facilities that had been monitored by the defendants were targeted based on the intelligence they had provided as part of their espionage activities," the Public Prosecution said in its statement.Sharing senstive locations on social mediaA social media account was also identified that it had been posting images of vital and sensitive locations within the Kingdom, along with false news and malicious rumors, while promoting manifestations of the Iranian aggression and the hostile operations targeting the country, glorifying and encouraging them.Investigations identified the woman managing the account, who was found to be communicating and conspiring with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to assist in carrying out hostile acts against the Kingdom. This included publishing maps and images of vital sites and facilities inside the country, accompanied by statements indicating the possibility of targeting them militarily. She also sent images and coordinates of several important and strategic locations in the country via an encrypted application for the same purpose. It was also established that she published visual content and images of locations that had been targeted in attacks, intending to glorify those acts and promote them, in addition to spreading false news and malicious rumors suggesting that certain vital sites had been targeted and that casualties had occurred among citizens and residents, with the aim of spreading panic.Upon questioning the defendants, some of whom confessed in detail to the charges against them. Witness testimonies were also heard, and forensic examinations were ordered for the technical devices used in committing the aforementioned acts.The Public Prosecution ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody and referred to trial before the High Criminal Court.UAE confirms 1 dead in Bahrain attack; Iran says 'non-hostile' ships can transit Hormuz StraitUAE strongly condemns Iran’s 'unprovoked terrorist attack' on BahrainBahrain says Patriot missile system involved in March 9 blast over residential area
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
Bahrain's Public Prosecutor has ordered referring 14 defendants in four separate spying cased to criminal trial, the country's state news agency said, adding that some of them are fugitives in Iran.
The referrals follow investigations that led to proving that the defendants formed separate cells in three of those cases, while the fourth case involves a female defendant. The announcement comes as the US-Israel Iran war entered its Day 27.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Conspiracy charges
The 14 defendants were charged with crimes of seeking and conspiring with Iran's IRGC with the intent of carrying out hostile and warlike acts against Bahrain, providing assistance to it in its hostile activities, and receiving, delivering and transferring funds to support such operations. One of them received military training at camps run by Guards.
The arrested also shared information considered among the country’s defense secrets, and spread false news and malicious rumors aimed at causing panic among citizens and residents, as well as promoting, glorifying and encouraging the hostile acts being carried out against the Kingdom.
Investigations in the four cases came after reports that indicated that amid the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom, the defendants—who are organizationally affiliated with terrorist groups and formed separate cells—had received assignments from members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps closely linked to it and recruited by it.
They were tasked with monitoring and photographing a number of vital facilities and sites and gathering information about them in preparation for targeting them.
"The defendants carried out the assignments given to them and sent the images and information they obtained to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which then used them in carrying out hostile operations against the Kingdom, during which buildings and facilities that had been monitored by the defendants were targeted based on the intelligence they had provided as part of their espionage activities," the Public Prosecution said in its statement.
Sharing senstive locations on social media
A social media account was also identified that it had been posting images of vital and sensitive locations within the Kingdom, along with false news and malicious rumors, while promoting manifestations of the Iranian aggression and the hostile operations targeting the country, glorifying and encouraging them.
Investigations identified the woman managing the account, who was found to be communicating and conspiring with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to assist in carrying out hostile acts against the Kingdom.
This included publishing maps and images of vital sites and facilities inside the country, accompanied by statements indicating the possibility of targeting them militarily. She also sent images and coordinates of several important and strategic locations in the country via an encrypted application for the same purpose. It was also established that she published visual content and images of locations that had been targeted in attacks, intending to glorify those acts and promote them, in addition to spreading false news and malicious rumors suggesting that certain vital sites had been targeted and that casualties had occurred among citizens and residents, with the aim of spreading panic.
Upon questioning the defendants, some of whom confessed in detail to the charges against them. Witness testimonies were also heard, and forensic examinations were ordered for the technical devices used in committing the aforementioned acts.
The Public Prosecution ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody and referred to trial before the High Criminal Court.
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