12 suspects released in coup d'etat case

The high criminal court in Qatar under the chairmanship of judge Masoud El-Amry and counselors Khaled El-Sweedy and Ali El-Bogashy, decided to release 12 of 117 suspects on trial for involvement in a failed 1996 coup attempt on a bail of 10,000 Qatari riyals.

The court will hold its next session in April to hear testimony from unnamed witnesses number three and four and to continue the arrests of other suspects.

The court has already heard 26 eyewitnesses, two of whom, one a Qatari national, explained how they informed the authorities of the coup plot. The eyewitness said he was one member of the group that plotted to overthrow the government.

The eyewitness detailed how he informed the authorities about this matter, after requesting and safeguarding his amnesty in return.