Manama: Bahrain is to court martial an officer and four policemen after they assaulted a detainee, the interior ministry said.

The order was issued by Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the interior minister, after the detainee's father filed a complaint that his son who had been arrested in a case of theft and use of violence was attacked by the police at a police station.

The complaint was taken up by the military prosecution for legal matters who checked the details with the detainee before referring him to a forensic doctor.

The medical examination revealed the existence of injuries resulting from electrocution and wounds on the detainee's shoulders and right leg.

The officer and the four policemen were interrogated on the injuries, but said that the detainee had abused and insulted them while they were doing their job.

However, the case was taken to the interior minister who referred the officer and the policemen to the high military court.

The interior undersecretary for legal affairs said that the minister's decision was part of the ministry's commitment to upholding human rights.