Boss allegedly attempt to molest Bahrain woman at office

Manama : A Bahraini woman’s personal and professional lives have become topsyturvy when she complained against her boss for allegedly attempting to molest her at workplace.

Um Ahmad, 30, had been working as a Secretary at one of the country’s well-known labour unions for almost two years when the incident took place in 2014.

Since then, the mother of four, who apparently lost her job, is in legal dispute with banks for not being able to pay-off her debts. She is still suffering from family rows and may lose her residence too.

The woman claimed that her Direct Manager, who is also a Bahraini, “attempted to molest her by touching her and cornering her in a tight spot inside his office”.

Ironically, the alleged molester is one of the victim’s senior in-laws. However, she said this didn’t stop him from “unveiling a nasty and perverted side of his personality”.

Bad demeanour 

“It all started when he offered me a job at the union through my husband, who’s a younger cousin to him. From day one, I felt weird about the way he stared at me. But, I didn’t believe my instincts, mainly because he’s a relative and I needed the job,” Um Ahmed told DT News yesterday.

“During my employment period, I encountered several uncomfortable situations with this man. I informed my husband, who assured me that these are only doubts and the man is in the position of our elder brother,” the woman said.

“I felt that he was attempting to lure me into an affair with him in some way. He repeatedly offered me uncalled for gifts and trips abroad.  He even sent to me inappropriate pictures of himself on more than one occasion, and then claimed that he had sent them by mistake. I put up with all considering my job security and our family relations,” she elaborated.

Day of the incident

“He had asked me to do some work on his computer on the day of the incident. His oval-shaped desk has tiny space and doesn’t fit two people. Anyhow, he insisted that I finish the work while he remained seated, despite asking him to give me some space,” the victim said.

“He touched me inappropriately and that’s when I shouted at him and warned him. He then began apologising and claimed that he loved me for a long time, regardless of the fact that I’m his cousin’s wife,” Um Ahmed revealed.

She then walked out of her workplace and informed her husband about it.

The man denied everything when he was confronted by her husband. Their row ended up at Isa Town Police Station.

Um Ahmed said, “The officer in charge requested us to solve the matter within the family. I withdrew the complaint only after the police documented his apology and confession. He also pledged not to harass or harm me in any way in the future.”

Agony begins

But the woman’s agony began there. The accused sought to fire her from the Union and its branches, and succeeded after a few months. Um Ahmad told that he also used his influence within her husband’s family to defame her.

“Another misery began as he convinced our landlord, who’s also a relative, that we had harmed him and that we need to be abandoned by the family. This caused our landlord to ask us continuously to vacate the apartment. My in-laws are now avoiding us because of this man’s claims,” she explained.

Case resumed

Um Ahmed said, “My husband and I decided to resume the case and take it to court. But it has been under investigation at the Public Prosecution for over 18 months. I even filed another complaint at the Labour Courts to speed up the process to get justice.”

“My husband is a soldier and often travels to take part within the Bahraini troops that are participating in the Saudi-led coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen. He cannot take the burden alone as life expenses are increasing. I feel shattered and devastated. All I want is justice,” Um Ahmed added.