Bahrain: Issa Qassim did not Appear in First Court Session

Manama-Bahrain’s Criminal Court postponed on Wednesday the trial of Isa Qassim and his assistants till August 14 after the defendants failed to appear in court on charges of illegal fund-raising and money laundering.

Qassim’s lawyer said his client was incapable to attend the trial in view of his health conditions.

The case of Qassim started when the Bahraini Security Authorities said they found a sum of $10 million in one of his private bank accounts.

According to evidence obtained by the Public Prosecution, Qassim was financing some terrorist organizations by sending money through illegal channels.

Attorney General Haroun Al-Zayani said on Wednesday that Bahrain’s Criminal Court had opened the case in which three people, including a religious figure (Isa Qassim), are charged with illegal fund-raising and money laundering and the intention to escape legal monitoring.

Bahrain’s Public Prosecution had launched intensive investigations to find out all the facts and follow up on the evidence relating to the process of how Qassim’s funds were raised, collected and spent by monitoring and documenting the banking and financial movements made by the defendants.

The investigations then concluded, through evidence based on the testimonies of the defendants who were questioned, and of witnesses as well as on the documents gathered by the prosecution.

According to the evidence, Qassim kept cash in his possession in order to avoid legal controls. He also tried to give legitimacy to some of the money by engaging in activities that included purchasing real estate worth more than $1 million and registering the properties under his name.

On June 20, Bahrain had revoked Qassim’s citizenship, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.

Bahrain: Issa Qassim did not Appear in First Court Session