Man gets a year in jail for identity theft

The High Crimi - nal court awarded t w o separate sentences to a man on charges related to identity theft and illegal stay in the Kingdom. The man, an Asian national, will have to spend one year in jail for ID card misappropriation and another 10-days for staying in the Kingdom illegally.

East Riffa police arrested him following a complaint filed by a company against him saying that the suspect presented to them someone else’s ID along with a job application. The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to police that he obtained the ID card by taking advantage of his roommate who was fast asleep at the time of asking. Case files say the suspect, understanding that his roommate is tired and in deep slumber, asked him permission to take his ID card.

The victim, not fathoming the consequence of his action halfawake, gave his Id to the suspect. The suspect then used the ID card to obtain a job from a company that was conducting a recruitment drive. However, the officials there while verifying ID cards realised that the suspect handed them someone else’s Id card.

The company officials reported the incident to police. On May 29, 2019, the Public Prosecution accused the defendant of ID card misappropriation and staying illegally in the Kingdom after the expiration of his residency permit.