Expat Employed for 13 Years at EWA with Fake Engineering Degree.

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A 45-year-old Asian man managed to secure a government job and rise through the ranks at Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority using a fake university degree from a non-existent American institution, it has been revealed.

The man was employed for 13 years—from 2010 to 2023—as an electrical engineer at the authority. His starting salary of BD 1,300 eventually increased to BD 2,208 following a promotion to head of the electrical switches group in 2022.

The deception came to light after the Ministry of Education received a request to verify the man’s academic credentials. Upon investigation, it was found that the so-called university that issued his electrical engineering degree did not appear in the U.S. list of accredited universities for 2023—and, in fact, does not exist at all.

According to court records, the man knowingly used the forged degree to apply for the engineering position and later had the certificate stamped “certified true copy” by an unsuspecting government employee. This stamp gave the document official status, which allowed it to be accepted for hiring and contract renewal purposes over the years.

The case has now reached the First High Criminal Court, which has scheduled August 26 to issue a verdict.

An official at the Electricity and Water Authority explained during the investigation that the degree was accepted in good faith, as it appeared legitimate and carried the official stamp. The contract was renewed multiple times without suspicion.

Meanwhile, a senior education specialist at the Ministry of Education confirmed that the fake degree came under review after a formal request for verification was submitted. The Ministry then contacted the cultural attaché in Washington through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their response confirmed the alarming truth: the institution in question simply doesn’t exist.

The Public Prosecution has charged the man with using a forged document, falsifying academic records, and deceiving a public institution for personal gain.

This case has raised fresh concerns about vetting procedures for academic qualifications in government jobs and could prompt a review of hiring practices in sensitive sectors like utilities.