Manama Bahrain's Supreme Court yesterday put off until May 22 the retrial of 13 people on charges of plotting to topple the country's government.
The court deferred the hearing given that two of the defendants, Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja and Mirza Al Mahroos, were confined to a hospital. It however said that both accused would have to be present when the trial reopened in two weeks.
The court ordered that the two defendants be given full medical care and also be provided expert care during their appearance in court.
Lawyers of the accused have been authorised to spend one hour with their clients, the court said.
The retrial by the Sup-reme Court was ordered by the Court of Cassation in the high-profile case against 21 defendants, of whom seven are being tried in absentia.
The Court of Cassation on April 30 allowed Al Horr Al Sameekh, one of the defendants, to go home after his prison term announced by the courts of national safety was reduced from two years to six months.
Varying jail terms
The 13 defendants held in prison and the seven others being tried in absentia were last year sentenced to jail terms ranging between two years and life by the National Safety Court of First Instance.
They were convicted on charges of establishing and managing terror groups to overthrow the monarchy and to change the constitution, passing on vital information to an overseas terrorist organisation to commit hostile acts against Bahrain as well as a number of other charges.
