Adel Fleifel status uncertain

An official source in the Bahraini national security department announced on Monday evening that reservations were made on the former state security intelligence officer col. Adel Fleifel who returned on Monday to Bahrain in the framework of the "right to return," guaranteed by the constitution in Bahrain according to article 17. This right gives certain individuals, such as political opposition members, immunity from being prosecuted.

The same source explained that Fleifel's case however falls under decree no 56 which does not protect improper personal conduct of employees.

The source stressed that these wrong practices remain under the control of the judicial sides concerned in having the final say whether he will be dealt with based on the Amnesty law in 1999 or after its release.

Col. Fleifel had fled from Bahrain to Australia in May after a committee representing high ranking officers at the Bahraini ministry of the interior started to investigate into accusations addressed against him by several Bahraini businessmen on blackmailing them financially, using his post.