Famous Lawyer Acquitted of Defamation Charges by Supreme Court

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

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A prominent lawyer has been definitively acquitted of defamation charges by the Cassation Court.

The court upheld the initial acquittal by the lower court, overturning a subsequent conviction by the Court of Appeals.

The case stemmed from a dispute between the lawyer and her former client, who accused her of negligence in handling his legal matters.

The client filed a disciplinary complaint against the lawyer with the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, alleging she failed to fulfill their agreement.

In response, the lawyer submitted a memorandum defending herself, which included statements deemed defamatory by the client.

The Public Prosecution initially charged the lawyer with defamation in November 2023, but did not specify the exact nature of the alleged offense.

The Public Prosecution issued a criminal order fining the lawyer 100 dinars, but she appealed the decision.

The lower criminal court acquitted her, but the Public Prosecution appealed the ruling.

The Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the acquittal and fined the lawyer 50 dinars. This led the lawyer to appeal to the Cassation Court.

The Cassation Court, in its ruling, found that the lawyer's statements were made in self-defense during the disciplinary proceedings against her.

The court concluded that the lawyer's statements did not constitute a crime and were not subject to punishment.