23 Feb 2012 GDN
A NEW special investigation unit will be set up at the Public Prosecution to look into all abuse complaints in line with a Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) recommendation.
The National Commission tasked with implementation of the BICI report last night received a letter from the government stating that Public Prosecution will have the special unit.
Panel and Shura Council chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh said the unit will be mainly responsible for questioning those involved in abuses during the unrest, which will see employees assigned duties or new employment, including independent prosecutors.
"The recommendation, which calls for an independent mechanism to question officials who have violated the law or their negligence have led to cases of murder, torture and mistreatment of civilians, has been fulfilled," he said.
But, he said enabling the Public Prosecutor's office to receive complaints from individuals and organisations as stated in the recommendation to ensure protection and privacy of those filing them was on its way to be ready as told by the government.
"The government is also on its way to draw up a decree to establish an office for grievances and a department for international affairs within the Interior Ministry and by-laws for their operation are being prepared in relation with the duties of the Public Prosecution," Mr Al Saleh added.
The government provided the commission with documents from a visiting British legal experts delegation, which said the Public Prosecution could do independent work instead of an independent committee and that this required extensive training for an effective and impartial investigation.
Mr Al Saleh said the issue of sacked workers was showing positive signs, which meant that the file was on its way to getting closed.
The commission's committees will meet next week to study progress in the government's implementation before submitting a report to His Majesty after its work concludes on February 29.
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National Commission