MANAMA — A criminal court on Thursday issued verdicts against 15 suspects over charges of violating the ministerial edict banning the gatherings of more than five people in public places imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, chief of the ministries and public bodies prosecution said.

The suspects were handed down sentences ranging from three to six months in jail, in addition to fines of 1,000 Bahraini dinars (SR10,000).

The Public Prosecution had received a number of notifications from security authorities, reporting a number of gatherings involving more than five people at public places.

Based on those reports, the Public Prosecution launched investigations into the cases and referred the defendants to the competent criminal court which issued the aforementioned rulings against them. — BNA