By Noor Zahra
Gulf Daily News
MANAMA, Bahrain — A verdict is due in the trial of 19 inmates who allegedly locked prison guards inside a cell during a riot - and then tried to electrocute them by pouring water on electrical appliances.
The prisoners were angry because three BlackBerry devices were confiscated during a routine search at Dry Dock Detention Centre, in Hidd, according to one of the guards.
Fifteen inmates appeared at the High Criminal Court yesterday, where they earlier pleaded not guilty to assault and damaging Interior Ministry property on August 16, 2012.
“A policeman earlier told judges that he got his information from a secret source, who was among the inmates,” one of the suspects told judges yesterday.
“How can you base your investigations and information on a person who is in prison?
“What if he has conflicts with other inmates and just wants to get them in trouble?
“I was jailed for six months in connection with rioting, which is a misdemeanour, so why would I attack prison guards, which is a felony, to stay longer in prison?
“We did not attack anyone, we were in fact attacked by officers and should be the victims in this case.”
Another inmate claimed the prisoners were being framed for threatening to file a complaint against prison guards.
“We said we would file a complaint against them for attacking us and that’s why we are in court now, it’s because of revenge,” the 34-year-old said.
“We went on a hunger strike and did not give up our rights as we stuck together against prison guards for beating us up, so they made up this case to shut us up.”
One of the prison guards earlier told prosecutors that he and seven others were overpowered and locked in a cell by inmates who went on a rampage. The trial was adjourned until September 24 for a verdict.