Statement from Bahraini special investigations unit

Nawaf Abdullah Hamza, Head of Public Prosecution, Head of Special Investigations Unit of the Public Prosecution, stated that the Unit has started its investigations of two deaths which occurred last February; the first involving the death of citizen Hasan Ali Ahmed Ibrahim, who was fatally shot by a shotgun at Daih on 14th February 2013 while law enforcement forces were dealing with a riot in the area. A Unit investigator proceeded to the scene to examine the body of the deceased, and ordered a medical examiner to examine the body and report on the cause and time of death. The Unit also heard testimonies of a number of law enforcement officers and the ambulance crew who transported the injured to the hospital, as well as the statements of the aunt of the deceased and a resident of the area. The Unit also summoned the Alwifaq Liberties and human rights spokesperson and questioned him on the news item released by the Department and published on Alwefaq’s website, alleging that two eyewitnesses had information on the incident. The Unit asked for the identities of those two witnesses, to be summoned and to hear their testimonies in the course of the investigation. However, the Department’s officer denied any knowledge of the names of the witnesses and promised to provide the unit with information on their identities, and that he will endeavor to provide photographs and audiovisual recordings of the incident. The Unit also decided to arrest two accused law enforcement officers pending investigation, and charged them with battery causing death. On another case, the Unit also proceeded with investigation of the death of citizen Mahmoud Isa Mohamed, who died in hospital on 22nd March 2013. The Unit assigned a medical examiner to examine the body of the deceased and determine the cause and time of death. The brother of the deceased stated during the investigation that his brother was brought in by two masked persons to his home at Al Nabih Saleh area on 14th February 2013 with a head injury. He was kept at home, but his condition deteriorated on the next day, and he was taken to the hospital to receive treatment. He remained at the hospital until his death on the above mentioned date. The brother also stated that he saw a recording on the Internet showing a police officer firing a tear gas canister on a masked person. However, the clothes that person was wearing were different than the clothes he saw his injured brother wearing. The lawyer present promised to provide the Unit with that recording to be included in the investigation file. The Unit also requested a judicial police investigation into the incident. The Unit also appealed a decision issued by the High Criminal Court on 26th February 2013 finding two law enforcement officers innocent of the death of citizen Fadhel Salman Matrouk during a riot near Salmaniya Hospital on 15th February 2011. An appeal hearing is scheduled for 22nd April 2013.