Detention renewed in court staff bribe case

The Lower Criminal Court yesterday ordered to renew the detention of a court employee and his sister (a lawyer), who are accused of accepting BD50,000 in bribe, for 15 days pending further investigations. The court’s order came as per the request submitted by the Public Prosecution in the presence of both defendants during their trial yesterday. Tribune reported earlier that the defendants allegedly received the bribe to facilitate a convict’s release from jail.

Their arrest came after a tip-off was received by the Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security Directorate in Interior Ministry, which confirmed that both defendants were caught redhanded while receiving an advance payment of the bribe. Sources also confirmed that the employee at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments had been recently promoted to the post of an acting supervisor at the Civil Court and that he oddly disappeared on the day of his arrest. Number element 50,000 Bahraini dinars were allegedly received by the court staff in bribe.