Judgment overturned over procedural violations and defense rights
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
The Court of Cassation has overturned a money laundering conviction involving more than 143,000 Bahraini dinars and ordered a retrial, citing procedural flaws and violations of the defendant’s right to a proper defense.
The defendant had previously been sentenced to five years in prison, fined 50,000 dinars, and had 143,606 dinars confiscated. He was convicted of laundering proceeds linked to cybercrimes, including electronic fraud, forgery, and unauthorized system access.
According to case details, the funds were withdrawn via ATMs and then moved through multiple financial transactions to conceal their source.
However, the Court of Cassation ruled that the Court of Appeal failed to adequately allow the defense to present its arguments, noting repeated adjournment requests and a denied request to reopen proceedings due to the defendant’s absence.
The court stressed that effective legal representation is a fundamental right at all stages of trial, and failure to ensure it renders proceedings invalid. The case has now been sent back for retrial.
