Lawyer disbarred for filing fake complaint

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A lawyer has been permanently struck off after Bahrain’s top court upheld his conviction for filing a false complaint against a former trainee.

The decision, published in the Official Gazette in its latest issue, came after the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Council voted unanimously to remove him from the roll.

The action followed a disciplinary case brought by the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

Appeal

A subsequent appeal to the Disciplinary Appeals Council was dismissed as out of time, and the appellant was ordered to cover the costs.

The Court of Cassation had earlier rejected the lawyer’s final attempt to overturn the conviction, upholding a six-month prison sentence issued by the appeals court, which had reversed an earlier acquittal.

The matter began when the complainant, a trainee at the lawyer’s office, brought a labour claim seeking unpaid wages.

The Labour Court ruled in his favour.

Employment contract

Shortly after, the lawyer lodged a report with the Public Prosecution, accusing the complainant of forging the employment contract and submitting it to the Social Insurance Authority.

He also alleged that a forged certificate of experience had been filed with the Registrar at the Ministry of Justice.

Following an investigation, the Public Prosecution concluded the accusations were unfounded and brought proceedings against the lawyer.

The report was found to have been made with the intent of causing harm to the complainant’s reputation.

The Lower Criminal Court initially acquitted him. However, the Public Prosecution appealed.

Custodial sentence

The High Criminal Court overturned the ruling and imposed a six-month custodial sentence. The lawyer lodged an objection, which was admitted procedurally but dismissed on the merits.

His final challenge before the Court of Cassation was also rejected, leaving the conviction and sentence intact.