Bahrain advocate general Nayef Yousif confirmed today that the First Criminal Court had passed down a sentence of six months in jail and a BD500 fine to an individual on charges of disrupting the electoral process.
During proceedings, the court heard that, on October 23rd, the defendant had posted a series of fabricated claims on social media which deliberately undermined the electoral process and its procedures.
In the detailing of allegations, the court further heard that the defendant had specifically made falsified claims, suggesting election candidates had received payment in return for running for office. When later questioned however, the defendant failed to produce any evidence to support his allegations.
Furthermore, the court heard that the defendants claims came at a time when a number of election candidates had been the victims of an intimidation campaign of targeted violence, which had seen serious arson attacks on their homes, work premise and vehicles, in an attempt to prevent them from running for office.
The High Elections Committee had first alerted the Public Prosecution about his claims on social media at the time and an investigation was subsequently launched. The Public Prosecution questioned the defendant and heard the testimonies of his witnesses, before referring the case to the Lower Criminal Court on the charge of disrupting the electoral process in a way that might affect its integrity, leading to today’s verdict and sentencing.