Man loses final appeal in drugs peddling case

TDT | Manama

The Court of Cassation yesterday rejected the appeal of a Bahraini man, who was earlier sentenced to five years of imprisonment and fined BD3,000, after he was convicted by the First High Criminal Court for selling drugs (hashish) to two young women—a Bahraini, 22, and a Gulf national, 19. The man had earlier appealed not guilty against the verdict and had his plea rejected by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

According to court files and statements of the Anti-Narcotics Department at the Interior Ministry, it showed that the man was arrested at his residence in Hidd after the department was tipped off about his possession of drugs with the intent of selling. The arrest took place on May 14 last year when a police force raided the appellant’s house and found the two women inside his room at his residence.

A piece of hashish (0.23g), methamphetamine, shabu (2.77g), and prescription pills were found in the man’s possession. Additionally, tools used to abuse drugs, such as rolling papers and pipes, were seized. It was also mentioned in the police report that an amount of BD129, which is believed to have been collected from selling drugs, was found.

The appellant earlier told interrogators that he buys the drugs through a person in Pakistan, claiming that he would transfer amounts of money to the alleged overseas dealer, who would lead him to the location where the drugs are hidden here in Bahrain.

As for the women, they told the officers that the man forced them to abuse the drugs, denying any relation to his peddling activities. The First High Criminal Court earlier convicted both women of drugs abuse. The Bahraini woman was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and fined BD100, while the Gulf national received a sentence of one year in jail, a BD1,000 fine, deportation, and blacklisting from entering Bahrain for three years.