Four Convicted in Bahrain for Trafficking and Abusing Foreign Worker

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The First High Criminal Court sentenced four defendants to five years in prison each and fined them 2,000 Bahraini dinars. They were also ordered to cover the costs of returning the victim to her home country and to be permanently banned from Bahrain after serving their sentences.

The court ruled after the four were found guilty of forcing a young woman into prostitution and making money from her under coercion.

According to the victim’s testimony after escaping, she came to Bahrain with the help of the first defendant to work as a hairdresser. She obtained a work visa and bought her travel ticket herself. Upon arrival, the first and second defendants met her, took her passport, and forced her to work as a prostitute for clients in exchange for money.

When she refused and asked to return home, they physically assaulted her and threatened to send her to jail. Later, they moved her to another apartment guarded by the second and third defendants, where they continued to force her into prostitution under threat and pressure.

Security investigations confirmed the victim’s report, leading to the arrest of the defendants. The public prosecution charged them with human trafficking, forcing the victim into prostitution through coercion, threats, and deception while she was in a vulnerable state and unable to freely consent. They also unlawfully deprived her of her freedom by holding her against her will.

The court found that the defendants relied entirely on the money they earned from exploiting the victim.