By Noor Zahra
Gulf Daily News
MANAMA, Bahrain — Faking illness to orchestrate an attack on prison guards landed two Bahrainis in court yesterday.
The pair were serving sentences of six months or less for theft in Jaw Prison in September 2012 when one of them, aged 20, pretended to faint in order to lure officers into his cell.
As a guard came to help, the convict started attacking him when a neighbouring inmate distracted him.
“One of the prisoners asked me for medication because he was not feeling well,” the 24-year-old guard said in his statement to prosecutors.
“I told him that I was going to inform my supervisor but he started yelling, so I came back and saw that he was on the ground and his eyes were open.
“I poured some water on his face to wake him up but he did not move. His eyes were open and he looked like he was faking it.”
While the guard struggled to revive the prone convict, another inmate, aged 22, started banging on his cell to get the guard’s attention, the court heard.
“I went to check what was going on and as I opened the cell, he punched and kicked me in the face,” said the guard.
“I tried to get him under control but then the other inmate stood up and started attacking me from behind.
“Two of my colleagues came to help but they were also attacked.
“My hands were injured in the attack and I received immediate medical treatment,” he added.
The High Criminal Court yesterday sentenced both assailants to 12 months behind bars, but as they had already served this time on remand they were released from custody.