Bahrain Coast Guard official jailed for leaking patrol routes to aid illegal shrimping

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Sharing patrol boats’ positions with a civilian has landed a Coast Guard official in jail for a year, the High Appeals Court confirmed.

The appeals court also slapped a three-month prison term on the fisherman for flouting the shrimping ban.

Investigators said the information passed by the official helped the fisherman successfully flout the ban and avoid arrest during the annual 6-month mandatory ban on catching, trading, and selling shrimp in Bahrain.

As per Bahrain’s law, it is forbidden to catch shrimp in territorial waters from February 1 to July 31 each year.

The ban also prohibits people from displaying and selling fresh, chilled, frozen, and unprocessed shrimp in markets and public places.

However, the information provided by the official helped the fisherman flout all of these.

The Coast Guard official was charged by the Public Prosecution with leaking confidential information and inciting the fisherman to flout the shrimping ban.

The Court heard witness testimonials confirming that the official was sharing the position of patrol boats with the fisherman to help him pick a safe spot to flout the ban.

Coast Guard officials also confirmed to the court that the leaked information was deemed confidential and not to be shared with the public.

The court found that the leaks allowed the fisherman to avoid arrest.