Five convicted in Bahrain over electronic fraud, embezzlement of public funds

The court has sentenced five defendants in a case involving the embezzlement of public funds through electronic fraud and forged records, the public prosecution said on Tuesday.

The Head of the Financial Crimes and Money Laundering Prosecution said the High Criminal Court found the defendants guilty of forging official electronic documents and unlawfully obtaining more than BD50,000 ($132,000) from government-linked entities.

Three of the defendants were sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the remaining two received shorter jail terms. The court also imposed fines ranging from BD1,000 to BD20,000 and ordered the confiscation of seized materials linked to the case.

According to prosecutors, the group manipulated electronic systems belonging to the Labour Fund Tamkeen and the Social Insurance Organization Social Insurance Organization by submitting falsified data and forged documents.

The investigation began after Tamkeen reported suspicious claims involving company owners who had allegedly obtained wage support by submitting fabricated records through its digital platform.

A separate complaint from the Social Insurance Organization later revealed that the same individuals had illegally altered employment records by adding and removing insured persons within its electronic system.

Authorities said the manipulation of data created fictitious employment histories, enabling ineligible individuals to claim pensions, end-of-service benefits and lump-sum payments.

Following the reports, the Financial Crimes and Money Laundering Prosecution launched an investigation, which led to the referral of the defendants to trial and their subsequent conviction.