A verdict date has been set in a case involving the alleged theft of more than BD20 million from a telecom company.
The company’s Bahraini partner, 38, has been on trial at the High Criminal Court since 2017 on charges of fraud, forgery, embezzlement and money laundering.
Another businessman, 58, is also standing trial for aiding and abetting the alleged crimes between 2011 and 2015.
A woman from an audit firm, who compiled a report indicating criminal activity, gave evidence in court yesterday, in the presence of the Bahraini defendant who had earlier been released on bail.
The GDN previously reported that the 38-year-old defendant allegedly stole more than BD20m over a four-year period, including more than BD14m that he is accused of embezzling by failing to carry out maintenance work through another company he owned.
Prosecutors claim the defendant also made BD1m in profits from the telecom firm by forging official company documents.
Defence lawyers, representing the Bahraini defendant, told a leading judge their client had been set up by other businessmen.
“He helped the company make millions of dinars; other businessmen became jealous,” said defence lawyer Abdulrahman Ghunaim.
“He is one of the first Bahraini men to be successful in this field.
“He was easily making BD10m profit a year.
“He also did everything legally and did not hide anything.”
Another lawyer said that the Public Prosecution did not carry out a proper investigation.
However, a Public Prosecution representative said proper legal procedures had been carried out in the case.
The trial was adjourned until March 31 for the verdict.
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