Bahrain will pay $2.6 million in restitution to 17 families over the deaths of 17 relatives last year during an uprising, a government statement said.
Separately, a high court toughened charges against three policemen, ruling they would be tried for murder — exposing them to a possible death sentence — rather than manslaughter for killing three protesters. “Disbursement of compensation to the families of 17 deceased persons has begun in keeping with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry,” said the statement. It said the payments amounted to $153,000 per person, but did not say who the recipients were.
The High Criminal Court ruled that the three policemen accused of killing three protesters in March 2011 should face trial for murder, the Information Ministry said in a statement. A fourth policeman was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for assault in the wounding of a protester with birdshot, it said.
Bahrain tries 3 cops for murder
