Robbery in hospital: Jail term of seven reduced

Seven people involved in a hospital robbery have had their jail terms commuted. The defendants include a former male employee at Salmaniya Medical Complex as well as two women. All the defendants, except the ex-public servant, were serving in a cleaning company assigned to carry out related services in the hospital.

The ex-public servant was earlier given five-year imprisonment by the High Criminal Court. The second defendant was also given an equal prison term, while the third convict received three years in jail.

But the remaining four accused were handed down two years behind bars. The Supreme Appeals Court reduced two years from the first two defendants’ (the ex-public servant and the second defendant) sentences, and one year from the rest. The defendants had been charged with stealing equipment from Salmaniya Medical Complex’s stockroom.

The crime was committed during 2014, and the public prosecution stated that an investigation was initiated as soon as they received the complaint about the offence.

Judges at the High Criminal Court also fined the defendants a combined total of BD100 and ordered them to return the stolen items. This was supported by the Appeals Court.