Unauthorised lawyer leads to dismissal of Bahraini’s fatal maritime accident appeal

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The Court of Cassation has rejected an appeal by a man sentenced to three years in prison over a maritime accident that killed two people. The court ruled that his lawyer was not authorised to represent him in the appeal.

It explained that filing a cassation appeal in criminal cases is a personal right that only the convicted person can exercise, or someone specifically authorized by them.

Representation

The power of attorney issued to the lawyer allowed representation in lower courts but did not include the right to file a cassation appeal.

The court dismissed the appeal on procedural grounds. Previously, the Second High Criminal Court of Appeal increased the man’s sentence from seven months to three years following the Public Prosecution’s appeal.

Fine The court also confirmed a fine of BD1,150 and ordered the confiscation of the fishing nets and the boat.

The case originated from a collision between two boats near Al-Muhammadiya Island. The defendant had towed the damaged boat to the coast of Malkiya, where one victim’s body was found.

Search operations later recovered the second body near Budaiya Port.

Prosecutors said the defendant caused the deaths while under the influence of drugs.

He also possessed pregabalin illegally, failed to provide safety equipment on the boat, did not install an identification device, and did not operate navigation lights. In addition, he and others conducted illegal trawling fishing in territorial waters.

Two other defendants were charged with staying in Bahrain illegally after failing to renew their residence permits.