Employer faces court trial for faking employee’s signature

A Bahraini employer is facing trial for seeking electricity and water connection from the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) under his Pakistani employee’s name without obtaining the latter’s consent. The case was referred to the First High Criminal Court, after the employee lodged a complaint as he discovered that he’s obliged to pay BD900 to settle outstanding EWA bills.

The victim discovered this when he approached the authority to obtain a power and water connection for his household for the first time. He was then informed about the money he owed to the authority since 2015. Court documents show that the incident occurred in the Northern Governorate, where the employer, with the assistance of another unknown individual, forged the victim’s signature to obtain power and water connection for a commercial shop.

The employer also used the identity card of the victim to complete the crime. The Public Prosecution accused the employer of forging the victim’s signature and willingly using it in official documents. The victim told the interrogators that he had worked with the defendant from 2011 to 2013, adding that he left the job because he wasn’t receiving his pay regularly. He said he discovered the matter when he rented an apartment and approached the authority to apply for a power connection. The court yesterday ordered to adjourn the case to July 2.