Man accused in desert rape attempt case nabbed

Police recently arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly assaulted and attempted to rape a Filipina in Sakhir camping area during the recent National Day holidays.

The arrest came over a week after the victim filed a case against the suspect, claiming that he attempted to rape her, assaulted her when she resisted and threatened to kill her.

Sources informed DT News that the suspect, who is an employee of Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), was taken on Thursday by the military police to the military detention centre from East Riffa police station, where the case is being investigated. However, it was not confirmed if the man was arrested from his residence or if he turned himself over to the police.

As reported earlier, the man apparently ignored multiple calls made by police to summon him. 

The victim alleged that he continued calling her, even after reporting the case against him. The woman informed DT News that she filed additional cases against him for harassing her and impersonating a police officer once.

The victim also said yesterday that “a couple of relatives of the suspect approached her and requested her to drop the charges against him.”

 “They even offered me money and cars. They said I can have whatever I want if I drop the case. I told them nothing would compensate for what was done to me but justice and the case is in the hands of the authorities,” she added.

DT News reported last week that the woman claimed she was trapped by a male friend who attempted to rape her in the desert. 

She said this happened after he invited her to an alleged National Day celebration at the camping area and informed her that an old mutual friend who is visiting from Saudi Arabia is attending.

There, the suspect allegedly attempted to remove the victim’s clothes and brutally assaulted her when she resisted, leaving multiple bruises and scars on her face and head. “I thought I was going to die, as he kept yelling that he would kill me while still beating me,” she said.

The victim also informed that her pleas to be taken to a hospital were ignored by the man and his friends, adding that “they were afraid of being held accountable if they take her to a hospital.”

“Instead, they stopped at a pharmacy and bought me some ointments, before dropping me home, while I was still bleeding from my face,” she added.

A few hours later, with the help of a friend, the victim filed a complaint to the police and went to Salmaniya Medical Complex where she was monitored and treated.

After DT News published the woman’s story, the Philippines Embassy in Bahrain adopted her case and pledged full support to the victim. Additionally, several local civil and rights societies offered to help the woman.