Asian-origin prison guard jailed in Bahrain for bribery

Manama : A prison guard, accused of accepting bribes from an inmate, will spend the next three years in prison after the High Criminal Court held him guilty. The inmate was also tried in connection with the same case and was given an equal prison sentence.

The accused smuggled a phone as well as nuts and Viagra pills and gave them to an inmate in Jaw Prison. The illicit act came to light following a tip-off received by the police. 

The guard was found to have received an iPhone 6, two Samsung phones and BD2,370 from the inmate’s brother in exchange of smuggling aforementioned items for him inside the jail.

According to court files, the prison guard, of Asian origin, was convinced by the inmate that he could shift him to another department, where he would be at ease and work pressure would be less if he smuggled the items to him. 

“I was upset a bit, and when the inmate saw me, he asked me why I was looking sad,” the guard told the prosecutors earlier. “I told him I wasn’t feeling comfortable with my job in Jaw Prison, and he told me that he has connections who can transfer me to another location,” he added.

“He requested me to call his brother who later gave me several phones and nuts to bring them for him inside the jail. He also manipulated me by promising me a house and a car,” he added.

The brother denied knowing anything about the inmate’s plans to smuggle the items inside the jail with the help of the accused. But the High Criminal Court sentenced him to one year in prison.