The criminal court on Wednesday rejected a request from defense lawyers to release ex-election candidate Musaed Al-Qraifa, on trial for allegedly insulting the political leadership, and set May 15 for the next hearing. Defense lawyers for Qraifa said the court heard the testimonies of a secret service officer and the legal representative of the interior ministry on the case.

The court then refused an appeal by the defense lawyers to free the defendant until the date of the trial. The lawyers said that Qraifa denied in court all accusations against him including insulting the political leadership and spreading false news. The presiding judge set the next hearing on May 15 to hear arguments of the defense team.

Several MPs and activists were present in large numbers as the judge allowed only the defense team and interior ministry representatives to attend the session. Qraifa was brought to the courtroom in his jail uniform. Qraifa made the offensive statements for which he is being tried at an election campaign just days before the April 4 parliamentary polls.