The High Criminal Court has delivered a strong message against human trafficking, sentencing four women to five years in prison and hefty fines for forcing victims into prostitution. The Court also ordered the defendants to cover the costs of repatriating the victims and to be deported permanently after serving their sentences.
The Public Prosecutor, Head of the Human Trafficking Prosecution, confirmed the verdict, stating that the case stemmed from a complaint filed by the victims themselves. They alleged that they had come to Bahrain seeking legitimate employment but were instead coerced into prostitution by the defendants.
Upon receiving the complaint, the Public Prosecution immediately launched a thorough investigation. The victims were interviewed and provided with shelter and support at a facility run by the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking. The defendants were interrogated, and police investigations corroborated the victims’ accounts. Based on the collected evidence, the Public Prosecution referred the case to the criminal court, which ultimately issued the harsh sentence.