Court ‘embarrassed’,retires from hearing in forgery case

A High Criminal Court decided to withdraw from hearing the case of a woman and man accused on grounds of fraud and forgery.

The court cited “embarrassment” as the reason after it was discovered that the investigator who was handling the case was a relative of a member of the judicial panel of the court.

The case was referred to the Supreme Judicial Council, although the court was due to announce its verdict. The accused in the case allegedly attempted to purchase mobile phones using counterfeit Saudi riyals.

The man reportedly planned the scheme, while the woman helped him in legalising the cash by buying mobile phones and selling them later.

Mobile phone shops owners stated the woman was wearing Muslim full-face veil when she handed them fake Saudi currency. According to court files, extensive investigation was launched to nab her, and detectives later learnt the woman was being helped by two men, including the male accused and a BDF officer.

The officer is being tried separately by a military court for allegedly importing the currency from Saudi Arabia.

A friend of the male accused’s son earlier told prosecutors that both of them were one day assigned to collect a bag full of currency. “His father asked us to go to someone (the officer) to receive something from him. When we met him in Hamala, he gave us a bag full of money. We delivered at my friend’s house,” the friend told prosecutors.

 “The next day when I visited their house, I saw a pile of Saudi riyal and US dollar currencies on a table,” he added. Court files indicated that the bills were printed using a PC and scanner of an average quality.