Man jailed and fined BD5,000 for human trafficking

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

An Arab national has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined BD5,000 for trafficking two individuals and forcing them into exploitative labour, a Bahraini prosecutor has confirmed.

The defendant has also been ordered to cover the victims' repatriation costs.

The High Criminal Court found the man guilty of compelling the victims to work under harsh conditions, including long hours and minimal pay. The nature of the work and the treatment they received were deemed incompatible with acceptable labour standards.

The case came to light following a referral by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), which prompted an immediate investigation by the Public Prosecution.

Investigators swiftly recorded statements from the victims and gathered testimony from witnesses. Police were also called in to assist, and their findings corroborated the victims’ accounts. The officer in charge of the investigation was later questioned in court.