Bahrain Court Overturns Three-Year Sentence of Woman for Lack of Evidence in ‘Trafficking’ Domestic Worker

Manama: Bahrain’s First High Criminal Court has overturned a previous ruling sentencing a Bahraini woman to three years in prison and acquitted her of human trafficking charges involving a domestic worker.

In its reasoning, the court said it doubted the attribution of the accusation and found that the elements of the crime were not established. The court noted that the complaint was filed by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority against the woman’s husband, who was identified as the worker’s sponsor and employer, and the person legally responsible for paying her wages.

The court cited documents showing that the husband alone brought the worker to Bahrain under his sponsorship and was responsible for her employment and financial obligations. A written statement from the husband confirmed that his wife had no legal or financial relationship with the worker.

The ruling said there was no evidence proving the woman was obligated to pay the worker’s wages or was involved in her recruitment or employment, concluding that there was no real suspicion of human trafficking. Based on this, the court cancelled the earlier conviction and acquitted the defendant under Article 255 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

During earlier hearings, defence lawyer Zahra Hussein argued that her client had no legal or factual connection to the victim, was not the sponsor or employer, and played no role in bringing her to Bahrain. The defence also highlighted testimony indicating the worker was not subjected to coercion or prevented from contacting authorities.

The Public Prosecution had accused the woman of exploiting the worker in forced labour without proper wages or leave. The court ultimately ruled that the evidence did not support the charge.