Bahraini Bank Employee Stands Trial for Embezzling Over BD136,000

The First High Criminal Court has begun the trial of a Bahraini man in his thirties, employed at a local bank, who is accused of embezzling more than BD136,000 by exploiting his position and targeting elderly customers.

The Public Prosecution charged the defendant with illegally using the electronic signatures and login credentials of three clients between 2023 and 2025 to access their bank accounts, alter personal data, and misappropriate funds. He is also accused of fraudulently obtaining and using identity cards of four individuals by photographing them and submitting the copies to banks and financial institutions to open accounts in their names without their knowledge or consent.

In his capacity as an assistant public relations manager at the bank, the defendant allegedly embezzled BD136,575.422 from the accounts of three customers.

Investigations revealed that the defendant attempted to open accounts for elderly clients using the same fraudulent methods, sometimes conducting the procedures outside the bank, including at a private farm, where his voice and vehicle were identified. One of the victims was defrauded of BD60,000.

Evidence from the defendant’s phone showed he had used voice-altering software to impersonate clients during account-opening procedures. Victims were elderly individuals unfamiliar with banking procedures and digital transactions, making them vulnerable to deception. The defendant allegedly exploited their lack of knowledge by opening accounts, changing their contact details, and preventing them from receiving bank alerts and notifications.

The prosecution stated that the defendant carried out unauthorized financial transactions following tampering with information systems and fraudulently opening accounts.

He was also accused of carrying out unauthorized transactions without the clients’ knowledge, following acts of forgery within the bank’s information systems and the fraudulent opening of accounts.