Asian suspects face trial for knife threat, assault and robbery inside workers’ flat

TDT | Manama

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A group of Asian men allegedly forced their way into a workers’ accommodation before dawn, beat four residents, threatened them with a knife and robbed them, according to court papers.

One suspect was caught on the spot and another later arrested, and both are now before the First High Criminal Court, which has fixed a hearing for 7 December and ordered that they remain in custody.

The first victim told prosecutors the incident took place at about 3.30am as he opened the door to the shared accommodation.

Assault

He said he was confronted by seven to eight men of Asian nationality standing outside, who pushed him aside and burst into the flat, where they assaulted him and his roommates.

According to his statement, one of the intruders went to the kitchen, took a knife and pointed it at the men, telling them not to move.

The group then searched the flat for items to steal and, he said, took belongings owned by him and his three colleagues before trying to run off.

The victims followed them, managed to grab one of the men and handed him to the police.

Prosecutors describe this suspect as the first defendant and say his role was to strike the victims before the robbery and escape.

In his own interview with the Public Prosecution, the second defendant stated that he lived with the first defendant in new accommodation they moved to after the incident because they feared arrest.

He admitted being among those who stole and caused the trouble under investigation.

After the incident he was drinking alcohol at his old accommodation when his accomplices came to him and urged him to move, telling him the first defendant had already been detained.

Footage

CCTV footage from the building is said to show the suspects entering the residential property where the victims live.

Police enquiries also named the second defendant as one of those involved, leading to his arrest.

Prosecutors have charged the two men, along with unknown others, with robbing the four victims of their movable property by force.

They are accused of assaulting the men, brandishing a knife and threatening them, and using these actions to overpower them, seize the items and flee with the stolen goods.