Bootlegger gets three months jail

Manama : A man was given three-months in jail and a fine of BD100 by the Second Higher Criminal Court for selling liquor during the Holy Month of Ramadan. He also tried to bribe a cop during arrest.

After completing the jail term, he will be deported and denied re-entry for a period of three years. The Court also ordered to confiscate the BD1,000 cash he offered as bribe to the policeman.

The suspect was arrested following a tip-off received at the Nabih Saleh police station regarding a man selling alcohol during Ramadan. When approached by a policeman in plainclothes, the suspect agreed to sell him beverages worth BD10 from his home in Juffair. Police seized large quantities of alcohol from his apartment.

The police captain told the court that the suspect tried to bribe him to help him escape punishment. The suspect offered the cop BD500 at first. He then raised it to BD750 and to BD1,000, but the official refused. Court files say the suspect started the business in January this year after buying BD700 worth of alcoholic beverages.

The man was charged with selling alcohol without a licence during Ramadan and offering a bribe to a public employee.