Eight face trial over BD800,000 gold theft

The Fourth Lower Criminal Court issued its ruling in a case involving eight defendants accused of stealing gold bullion, luxury watches and other valuables worth more than BD800,000 from a residence in the Juffair area.

According to court files, the victim reported leaving his home on February 28 and returning on March 6 to discover the property had been burgled. Stolen items included 22 Rolex watches, around 1.5 kilograms of gold and nine small gold bars weighing nine grams each, which had been stored inside a steel safe in a bedroom.

Investigators from the Capital Governorate Police Directorate reviewed surveillance footage from the surrounding area and identified a vehicle parked near the residence on the morning of March 2. Authorities also found that internal security cameras inside the house had been covered during the incident.

Police later identified and questioned the vehicle's owner, who denied direct involvement in the theft. He claimed he had been with friends on the rooftop of a nearby building watching what he described as shelling linked to the Iranian aggression against Bahrain. He later admitted that some acquaintances had shown him part of the stolen items in Sanabis and that he had received one watch knowing it was stolen, according to investigators.

Further investigations led authorities to identify the remaining suspects. Three defendants face theft charges, while the other five are accused of receiving and handling stolen property.

The Public Prosecution requested six-year prison sentences for the three defendants accused of theft, while the remaining suspects could face jail terms ranging from six months to two years.