Bahrain Mirror: The Second High Criminal Court upheld 5-year jail term and deportation of an Arab accountant who demanded 30.000 BD bribe in return for exporting a copy from the expert assigned in one of conflict cases about big mall.

The suspect (58 years) is an Arab national, working as accountant in an office of administrative and accounting consulting company. A civilian court had assigned the company owner as an expert in a judicial lawsuit brought by a Bahraini businessman against a commercial company and Arab businessman regarding the ownership of a big mall.

The defendant called the plaintiff and asked to meet him in a place where no one can see them. During the meeting, the defendant told the plaintiff that he had a look on a copy of the report made about the case and that it wasn't for his sake. He also suggested to give him a copy of the report in return for 30000 BD. The plaintiff pretended that he is interested and gave the defendant an initial approval, but he [the plaintiff] filed a complaint to the general directorate of anti-corruption that asked him to keep pace with the defendant until they prepare him an ambush and catch him red handed.

The defendant was caught and transferred to the Public Prosecution that accused him of demanding bribe. The first-instance court issued 5-year jail term against him and ordered his deportation after serving the sentence. The defendant appealed the verdict. The court accepted the appeals in form, but rejected it in substance and upheld the verdict.

Arabic Version