Sohar bomb case accused sent to jail

Twelve accused in the ‘Sohar explosive' case were sentenced to jail by the Criminal Court on Tuesday while eight detainees from Salalah were released. Seven accused tried under the terrorism law of Oman were sent to jail for 30 months while five others were given three-month jail term for aiding and abetting the main accused in carrying out terrorism activities. The accused were charged with possessing the material with the intention of making explosives to spread terror in Sohar. Khalid Bin Hamoud Al Badi, Khaled Bin Hamad Al Badi, Khalid Bin Saeed Bin Humaid Al Badi, Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Badi, Amer Bin Khamis Al Muqbali, Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi and Abdul Aziz Al Muqbali were given two and half years imprisonment for terrorist activities. Article continues below Explosives Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Badi and Abdul Aziz Al Muqbali were given one-year for making explosives. Both the sentences will run concurrently thus they will spend their time in jail for 30 months. Khalfan Al Muqbali, who was arrested for heading the ‘Dragon Gang', was accused of planning armed attacks with the use of explosives at the time of his arrest, which was much publicised by the authorities. However, in the court he was tried only for aiding and abetting the main accused and got only three months in jail. The four sentenced to three months in jail are Ali Bin Rashid Al Muqbali, Thahi Al Omrani, Yusuf Al Badi, and Saud Al Roshdi. Meanwhile, eight detainees from Salalah were released on Tuesday but will have to appear in court for their case. Mohammad Bin Ali Al Amri, Salem Al Mashni, Musallam Bin Ajam, Shaikh Amor Hardan, Saeed Bin Foud Al Qahori, Ali Al Mahri, Nasser Sakroum and Ahmad Tabouq were set free. Faheem Al Mashani, who is suffering from kidney ailment, was released earlier. "We are very happy that all the Salalah detainees have been released," Abdul Hakim, son of released detainee Shaikh Amor, told Gulf News from Salalah. He said that all the eight activists were in good health and had no difficulties during their 55-day detention. At the same time activists in Sohar have used social media forums on the web call for protests against harsh prison sentences of Sohar activists. The postings have called people to peacefully protest after prayers on Friday. Last Friday, a protest that was started by a small group turned slightly ugly and police had to resort to tear gas to quell the mob that was damaging vehicles in the area.