Shura backs raising witness testimony limit to BD1,000

TDT | Manama

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The Shura Council on Sunday gave its final approval, under an urgent procedure, to a draft law amending Bahrain’s Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Matters, raising the value limit for proving a legal act, or proving that it has ended, through witness testimony from BD500 to BD1,000.

The Council decided to send the draft to the Speaker of the Council of Representatives for referral to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, ahead of submission to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The amendment updates Decree-Law No. 14 of 1996, based on a proposal submitted by the Shura Council, and follows the approach taken in Law No. 17 of 2009, which raised the same limit from 200 dinars to 500 dinars.

Framework

Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee rapporteur Sabeeka Al Fadhala told the chamber the change is meant to update the legal framework in line with economic and social change, and follows the approach taken in Law No. 17 of 2009, which lifted the same limit from 200 dinars to 500 dinars.

Al Fadhala said the aim is to make court steps easier by easing evidence rules to match the way civil transactions now work, so people can prove rights worth up to 1,000 dinars through the recognised routes of proof, including witness testimony.

She said the propos - al fits the right to litigation under Article 20 of the Constitution.