Five of seven Sohar protesters get bail

The Primary Court in Al Khuwayr on Wednesday released on bail five of the seven protesters arrested from Sohar on March 29 and March 31. They will be out on bail until the second session of the trial begins on Monday. The released protesters are: Hilal al Alawi, Ali al Badi, Khamis al Ajmi, Ali al Muqbali and Khalfan al Muqbali.

In all, 27 protesters are being tried in the Primary Court at Al Khuwayr. All the protesters, including those who are in jail, were asked to come next Monday for the second session of the trial. The two protesters who are still in prison are Khalid al Handhooli and Ammar al Hinai. Both of them have been accused of attacking security officials on duty.

“The two persons are to stay in jail because of the nature of their crimes,” the trial judge said. Handhooli was accused of manhandling a security official and giving him a letter addressed to the head of Batinah police headquarter which said: 'We have abducted one of your staff. You must withdraw your personnel immediately, otherwise you will regret it.'

Handhooli has denied attacking the security personnel. Almost all the protesters have denied the accusations filed against them which include ‘provoking the public, blocking roads, delaying traffic, delivering speeches at unauthorised places, attacking security personnel and insulting government staff’.

Defence lawyers complained to the judge against holding the trial in Muscat. They also complained that some of the protesters have been under arrest for more than 30 days.

The defence lawyers also pleaded that they be allowed to have a look at the case files, following which the judge granted them permission to go to Bidbid to collect the case files.