'Hot Water Horror': Mothers Accused of Child Abuse, Prostitution in Bahrain

The High Criminal Court in Bahrain has commenced the trial of two Asian women, aged 25 and 28, accused of endangering the lives of two children, aged 4 and 7, relying on prostitution for their livelihood, and residing illegally in the country.

The case unfolded when the first witness received a message from his wife about a problem with one of the children residing in the same apartment. Upon arriving at the apartment, he discovered that the 4-year-old child had been burned by hot water. Therefore, he informed the police.

Meanwhile, his wife testified that she heard one of the children crying and asked the first defendant about the reason. "I am sharing the same apartment with the first defendant. I heard the child crying, and she said that he had turned on the hot water and burned himself. I asked her to contact the second defendant (the mother of the child), who arrived and took the child to the hospital," the second witness said.

However, the first defendant stated that she didn't mean to harm the children. "I placed the children in the bathtub, turning on the water at a moderate temperature, and leaving to prepare clothes for approximately 20 minutes. Upon hearing the child's screams, I discovered he had turned on the hot water. I removed him from the tub, applied gel to his body, and dressed him. Due to the child's crying and pain, I contacted his mother, who took him to the hospital," she told prosecutors.

The forensic doctor appointed by the Public Prosecution, after examining the child, noted that the distribution of burns on his body indicated no physical limitations preventing him from moving to avoid the pain caused by the hot water. The doctor also stated that the child's unstable health condition made it difficult to determine the extent of permanent disability.

The Public Prosecution has charged the two defendants with intentionally harming the 4-year-old and 7-year-old victims by immersing them in hot water in the bathtub. This resulted in injuries documented in a forensic medical report, leading to permanent disability for the 4-year-old victim. The prosecution alleges that the intent to harm was present in the case of the 4-year-old victim.

The prosecution further alleges that the 25-year-old defendant partially relied on income from prostitution.

The second defendant, the mother of the two children, is accused of neglecting and failing to fulfil her duties in protecting their safety. She is also charged with solely relying on income from prostitution. Both defendants are accused of failing to renew their legal residency permits issued by the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence, which allows them to reside in Bahrain.

The trial is ongoing, with the court expected to determine the fate of the two defendants based on the evidence presented.

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