Appeals Court upholds sentences against Bahrainis who ‘attacked illegal residents’

The First Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal this week upheld the imprisonment sentences that were previously issued against two Bahraini drug addicts, who regularly “hunted and mugged” illegal residents and used the money to buy and abuse drugs. According to court files, the appellants had regularly mugged illegal residents in different parts of Bahrain and utilised the money to score and abuse drugs.

They were exposed when they stopped an Asian national who was collecting tin cans and metals from garbage containers in Salmabad area. Both men asked the man to get in the car with them, pretending they’re undercover cops. The scared man gave them BD30, which was all the money he had on him, when they asked him for money to release him, according to Prosecutors. Because of his fear of being held accountable for his illegal stay in the Kingdom, the Asian man didn’t report the matter to the authorities.

However, a vigilant Bahraini man who lived nearby witnessed the entire incident. The man noted down the registration number of the defendants’ vehicle and reported the matter to the police. In co-operation with the General Directorate of Traffic, the police was able to find the address of one of the defendants and arrested him. The first defendant confessed to the crime and led the police to his accomplices and they were both referred to the Public Prosecution.

Additionally, laboratory testing of the urine samples of defendants proved presence of traces of narcotics, including Diazepam and Morphine. The court sentenced both men to three years imprisonment for mugging the victim and six months for consuming drugs. They both appealed against the verdict, but the court rejected their appeals and upheld the previously announced verdicts.