Court Sentences Three Foreigners for Money Laundering Linked to Online Fraud

The First High Criminal Court has sentenced three foreign nationals to prison terms ranging from five to nine years for their involvement in money laundering related to cyber fraud. Each of the convicted individuals was fined BHD 100,000. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of BHD 83,710.939 from the first defendant and BHD 444,290.800 from the second and third defendants.

The corporate entity involved in the case was also fined BHD 100,000, and BHD 444,290.800—or any equivalent assets—was ordered to be seized. Following the completion of their sentences, the three individuals will be permanently deported from Bahrain.

The Public Prosecution of Financial and Money Laundering Crimes had initiated investigations after receiving complaints from victims who were lured into investing in digital currencies and trading stocks with a company that was not licensed in Bahrain. Victims paid substantial sums, only to discover they had been defrauded.

Investigators from the National Centre for Financial Intelligence traced the transactions, revealing that the defendants had transferred the fraudulently obtained funds abroad. The Public Prosecution also interviewed witnesses and questioned one of the accused, presenting him with the evidence before placing him in pretrial detention.

The case was then referred to the competent criminal court, which issued today’s ruling.