Manama: A Bahrain court on Tuesday said that it would issue its verdict in the case of Mattar Ebrahim Ali Mattar, a former lawmaker, in two weeks.
Mattar who was charged with incitement to the hatred of the regime, disseminating malicious information and organising rallies representing Al Wefaq, the largest opposition society, in the lower chamber for two months before resigning.
The prosecutor said that there was ample evidence to condemn Mattar and requested the maximum sentence from the court.
However, the defence team said that he was innocent and that he should not be tried on the grounds that he was a lawmaker with parliamentary immunity when the alleged offences occurred and that the rallies in which he took part were licenced.
The National Safety Court of First Instance court said that the trial would resume on July 5.
Matar and the other 17 MPs from Al Wefaq handed in their resignation to protest against the actions of the authorities in dealing with demonstrators. Their fellow lawmakers initially rejected the resignation and asked them to reconsider their position.
However, Al Wefaq insisted on quitting the lower chamber. Mattar Ali and Jawad Fairooz were both arrested after their parliamentary immunity was lifted. Jawad will also know his fate in July when the court issues its verdict.
