Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter VI — Allegations of Human Rights Violations Against the Person
by a group of individuals carrying wooden planks and sharp objects. The
witness stated that while trying to escape, the deceased was struck by a
vehicle. No one has been charged with a crime relating to this death.
1017. The death of Mr Maqbul can be classified as an intentional killing.
An investigation was conducted by the MoI, which failed to identify the
person responsible for this death.
Expatriate workers killed by security forces
Case No. 29 - Stephen Abraham 530
1018. On 16 March 2011, Mr Stephen Abraham, an Indian national, was
pronounced dead. The death certificate states that the cause of death was a
gunshot injury to the right side of the chest.
1019. A forensic report confirmed the cause of death and concluded that the
deceased died from one gunshot wound. The bullet was fired from an
unspecified distance. The deceased was shot while in a standing position.
1020. The MoI conducted an investigation into this case. The investigation
found that the deceased was discovered with a gunshot wound in the right side
of his chest. The investigators also found a 3cm hole in the window of the
kitchen of the factory room where the deceased was shot. The investigation
concluded that the BDF were responsible for this death. The BDF unit
implicated in this incident is the same unit implicated in the case of Ms
Bahiya A. Alaradi.
1021. BDF investigations show that the deceased was shot in the lower
chest region by a .50 Browning Gun bullet, which is identical to the weapon
used by the BDF unit stationed near the restaurant where the deceased
worked. The BDF personnel stated that none of them fired at the deceased.
During their deployment to the area, there were only two incidents in which
they resorted to the use of force: once to disperse a group of protesters and
another at an approaching SUV (leading to the death of Ms Alaradi). An
ordnance expert noted that the velocity of the weapon and the angle of the
entry wound indicates that the bullet was shot from above the deceased. It
was therefore impossible for the bullet to have come from the BDF unit given
the position of the BDF unit relative to the deceased. This type of bullet can
be fired from three types of rifles used by snipers. On the basis of this
information, the Military Prosecution concluded that BDF personnel
conducted themselves in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,
and there were no grounds to press charges. The BDF referred the case to the
(civilian) Public Prosecution to continue its investigations.
1022. The death of Stephen Abraham is attributable to the BDF. The
Military AG purports to have conducted an effective investigation. The
investigation found that the calibre and trajectory of the lethal bullet meant
that it could not have been fired by the BDF. The investigation concluded that
the BDF personnel appeared to have acted in accordance with the law.
530 No statements provided to the Commission.
247