Lunch Date Turns into Brutal Assault: Man Jailed for Five Years

TDT | Manama

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A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting, kidnapping, and robbing a woman he had invited to his apartment for lunch. The High Appeals Court upheld the original sentence handed down by the lower court.

According to the victim's testimony, she was acquainted with the defendant and accepted his invitation for lunch. Upon arriving at his apartment, he locked the door, confiscated her phones (throwing one from the balcony), and stole her purse, containing a silver necklace, silver lighter, and another phone.

The assault then began. The man allegedly struck her repeatedly on the head and body with a metal rod, inflicting approximately 15 blows. The victim fled to the kitchen, grabbing a knife and barricading herself in the bathroom. The defendant broke down the door, disarmed her, and continued the assault, kicking and hitting her with a glass water bottle. He then confined her to the apartment balcony for approximately two hours.

During this time, a hotel security guard, collecting rent, was alerted by a tenant who heard the woman’s cries for help. The guard found the defendant sweating and his clothes soiled; the victim was also visibly distressed and bruised. Despite the victim's attempts to signal her distress, the defendant dismissed the guard's concerns and forced him to leave.

Police were eventually contacted. Upon arrival, the defendant answered the door holding a Quran, dressed in what appeared to be medical attire, and carrying an iron cane.

He claimed the victim was his wife and that he was treating her with the Quran. He initially refused to allow police to speak with her, claiming she didn't speak to men, but eventually allowed her to come to the door. While she initially downplayed her injuries, visible bruises were apparent.

The next day, the security guard reported the defendant spraying water throughout the apartment, further prompting police involvement. The victim, lacking residency permits, initially hesitated to fully report the incident but ultimately did so.