Gold, Cards, and Burglary: Man gets 5-year sentence

TDT | Manama

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The High Criminal Court of Appeal has upheld a five-year prison sentence for a 38-year-old man involved in a series of offences that began with a home break-in and ended with the use of stolen bank cards to sell gold.

The court heard that the defendant entered an empty house through a window, drank water and juice, and moved through the rooms, taking the maid’s clothes and phone, as well as clothing and a watch. When the residents returned, he fled in a car, which he drove away using its keys left inside. He later attempted to sell gold using a stolen bank card and carried out multiple transactions with another person’s card. Police arrested him shortly afterward.

The case began when a victim returned home to find his bank card and gold jewellery missing. BHD 1,800 had been withdrawn from the card. Other stolen items included medicines, the maid’s clothes, a watch worth BHD 100, a gold and diamond ring worth BHD 1,500, three laptops, and four iPads. A second witness in the Southern Governorate reported his wallet, along with a bank card and ID, had also been stolen.

A shop owner who trades in gifts, watches, and jewellery told police the defendant tried to sell gold using the second victim’s ID. The shop later discovered that the seller did not match the cardholder, although the two bore a resemblance.

Prosecutors said the offences occurred in June 2024. Charges included using another person’s ID for gain, forging a private document (a gold-sale receipt), using the forged receipt, theft of cash and property, and driving another person’s vehicle without permission.

According to the case file, the chain of events began when the man attempted to collect a drug dead drop. Passers-by spotted him and gave chase, prompting him to jump a wall to hide, after which the break-in occurred. The appeal court confirmed the original sentence.