Five years, BD2,000 fine for traffickers

TDT | Manama

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Two Asian men have been sentenced to five years in prison each after being convicted of human trafficking and exploiting victims in unlawful activities.

The First High Criminal Court also fined each defendant BD2,000 and ordered them to cover the costs of returning the victims to their home countries. In one of the cases, the defendant was further ordered to be permanently deported from the Kingdom of Bahrain after serving his sentence.

The cases came to light following reports received by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit at the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation.

Investigations revealed that the defendants had lured the victims to Bahrain with false promises of employment. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated and their freedom restricted inside an apartment. Some victims were assaulted and coerced into illegal activities.

The Public Prosecution immediately launched investigations, recorded statements from the victims and arranged for their placement in a shelter operated by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking. The defendants were questioned and remanded in custody while police completed further inquiries.

After sufficient evidence was gathered, the Public Prosecution referred the cases to trial, where the court issued its verdicts.