12 months ago
The High Sharia Court has granted a divorce to a woman who converted to Islam after a 10-year separation from her Christian husband. The woman, an Asian national, had been married to her husband for 16 years under a marriage contract issued in their home country. According to her lawyer, Ibtisam Al Sabbagh, the relationship broke down in 2014, with no contact between the couple since. The woman moved to Bahrain in 2017. The pivotal point in the case, however, was the woman’s conversion to Islam, confirmed by a certificate issued by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments. This conversion, coupled with the prolonged separation and the Islamic prohibition against Muslim women marrying non-Muslim men, formed the basis of her divorce petition. The court’s judgment pointed to the Islamic principle that a marriage contract can be annulled due to a huge impediment arising after the marriage.
12 months ago
Stricter rules for restaurant delivery riders were approved by Parliament yesterday after more than 4,000 traffic breaches were logged by November 2023, with reckless riding and food hygiene concerns sparking a tougher stance. The push, put forward by MP Maryam Saleh Al Dhaen, aims to rein in the growing disregard for road rules among riders while ensuring food transport boxes meet hygiene standards. A joint committee made up of members from the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee and the Services Committee backed the plan, calling it necessary for public well-being. Concerns have been piling up over risky behaviour, with riders weaving through footpaths and dodging traffic signals. “These shortcuts put pedestrians and other road users in danger. We need stronger enforcement to put a stop to it,” she added. Al Dhaen pointed to Interior Ministry figures showing a steady rise in violations: 2,378 in 2020, climbing to 3,227 in 2021 and 3,932 in 2022. By November 2023, the tally had hit 4,188 despite stepped-up policing. “The ministry has made it clear it won’t turn a blind eye to this,” she said, adding that 364 motorcycles had been impounded for serious breaches. The crackdown also tackles food safety, with […]
12 months ago
A former general manager has successfully sued his former employer, a restaurant owner, for unpaid wages and compensation. The court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, awarding him a total of BD2,666.67 in back pay, compensation, and interest, although the defendant employer claimed that the relationship was not one of employer-employee but rather a business partnership in which the plaintiff was responsible for all operational expenses and shared profits. According to the plaintiff ’s lawyer, Ali Al Qasseer, his client filed a lawsuit demanding BD2,800 in unpaid wages, compensation for delayed payment, annual leave allowance, notice pay, end-of-service gratuity, compensation for contract termination, and a return airfare ticket. Notice “My client worked for the restaurant for eight months at a monthly salary of BD400 before his employment was abruptly terminated without prior notice or payment of outstanding dues,” the lawyer argued before the Labour Court. The defendant, the restaurant owner, alleged that the relationship was a partnership, claiming the plaintiff managed the restaurant, covering all expenses (rent, electricity, staff salaries, materials, and equipment) and sharing profits. He claimed the plaintiff misappropriated funds and failed to meet his financial obligations, leading to accumulated debts. The court, however, rejected the defendant’s claims. […]
12 months ago
Cheque fraud and cafe bills — three school employees accused of pocketing BD86,000 meant for their workplace and splashing it on beauty salons, cinemas, and personal expenses will argue their case on 11 February, as court keeps the prime suspect behind bars. The prosecution claims the trio, who worked at a technical secondary school, played fast and loose with school funds, forging cheques and fiddling financial records before helping themselves. Instead of the money going where it should, it allegedly bankrolled a shopping spree that stretched from men’s fashion stores to car dealerships and even covered personal electricity bills. At yesterday’s hearing, the defendants turned up with their lawyers, who pushed for key witnesses to take the stand. They want testimony from the Education Ministry’s investigation team, which put together financial reports on the case, and an expert to go over the money trail and report back. Prosecutors say the scam ran from 1 January 2019 to 30 April 2024. Accounts The three accused, all public employees, are charged with snatching BD86,891.895 from the school’s accounts. Investigators claim they roped in the school principal, described as a well-intentioned public servant, to help without him knowing it. They allegedly tricked him […]
12 months ago
A woman who transferred a BD 91,684 property to a relative to keep debt collectors from seizing it has lost her bid to reclaim it, after the court ruled that the transfer was a legitimate business deal and upheld the dismissal of her case on appeal. She had argued the sale was just on paper, meant only to keep the property safe while she dealt with a lawsuit demanding BD91,684.356 from her. The BD60,000 price recorded in the contract, she insisted, had never been paid. She also claimed there was an understanding that the property would be given back once the legal dust had settled. Instead, she alleged, her relative transferred it to her father-in-law, setting off the dispute. Client Lawyers Baqer Marhoon and Abdulla Al Qadiri, representing the first defendant, said their client was sued alongside her husband, his father, and the Survey and Land Registration Bureau. The plaintiff asked the court to dig into the matter, arguing she had an agreement with the defendants to transfer ownership as a temporary fix. She also sought to prove that the BD60,000 stated in the contract was never handed over.
12 months ago
Muharraq Governorate Police Directorate announced the arrest of three Asian nationals for allegedly defrauding a woman through a social media platform. The suspects are accused of using a fraudulent online advertisement to sell a mobile phone. According to police reports, the victim contacted one of the suspects after seeing an online advertisement for a mobile phone. Full price She paid the full price in advance. Upon receiving the device, she discovered it was faulty and did not match the advertised specifications. When she attempted to contact the seller for a refund or exchange, she was blocked. The victim subsequently filed a report with Samaheej Police Station. Following an investigation, police identified and detained the three suspects.
12 months ago
A worker was locked in an office overnight, roughed up, and threatened by his employers after they accused him of stealing from the company. Prosecutors have charged the two men with unlawful detention, assault, and making threats. A court hearing has been set for 10 February. The victim’s ordeal only ended when his brother went to the authorities. The worker, from South Asia, said he received a call from the first accused, ordering him to report to the company office. Passport When he arrived, he found the second accused already there. Without much talk, the first man demanded his passport. Not suspecting what was coming, he handed it over. Then came the real reason for the summons. A video was played-footage showing him handing over money to other staff. This, they claimed, was proof of theft. He denied it outright, but the two men weren’t having it. They demanded his belongings. When he refused, fists flew. Amount Later, the first accused phoned the worker’s brother, demanding he hand over the amount allegedly stolen. Until the money was paid, the worker would not be going anywhere. The brother, unable to raise the funds, refused. That was when the first accused ordered […]
12 months ago
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East,” is set to host Round 4 of the highly popular Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship from today to Friday. This round promises intense action and fierce competition as drag racing enthusiasts from across the Gulf region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, converge on the drag strip. The event kicks off with test and tune sessions today from 6 pm to midnight, followed by another session on Wednesday from 4 pm to midnight. Qualifying rounds take center stage on Thursday, starting at 4 pm, culminating in the race day on Friday, commencing at 3 pm. Organizers anticipate a large turnout of cars and motorcycles, building on the success of previous rounds which saw over 200 participants. Competitors will vie for top honors in various categories for both cars and motorcycles. Car categories include Pro Mod, Competition 4.5, Pro 9.5, Outlaw 6 Cylinder, Outlaw 4 Cylinder, Index 7.5, Index 8.5, Index 9.0, and Index 10.0. Motorcycle categories feature Pro Street and Outlaw. Tickets are priced at 5 Bahraini Dinars for the grandstand and 3 Bahraini Dinars for the Paddock stand on qualifying and race days. Test […]
12 months ago
The Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced the implementation of 853 inspection campaigns and visits, during the period of 26 January to 1 February 2025, which resulted in the detention of 17 violating irregular workers, while 96 violators were deported. The inspection campaigns and visits also resulted in monitoring several violations related to the provisions of several regulating laws, especially the Labor Market Regulatory Authority and the Residency Laws in the Kingdom of Bahrain, noting that legal measures were taken regarding the observed violations. The authority pointed out that 841 inspection visits were carried out on various shops in all governorates, in addition to 12 joint inspection campaigns, which included 8 campaigns in the Capital Governorate, 1 campaign in the Muharraq Governorate, 1 campaign in the Northern Governorate, and 2 campaigns in the Southern Governorate. The government entity that participated in the campaigns is the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), and the Governorate’s Respective Police Directorate. The Authority affirmed the continuation of joint coordination with government agencies to intensify inspection campaigns in all governorates of the Kingdom and to address any violations or practices that negatively affect the stability and competitiveness of the […]
12 months ago
The public transport operator in Bahrain plans to upgrade its fleet of buses following the renewal of its operating franchise by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. According to sources, the Ministry recently renewed the public transport contract in Bahrain for an additional five years after the previous contract, which lasted approximately one year, came to an end. The decision to renew for only five years, rather than the anticipated ten, is due to the pending finalisation of the Bahrain Metro project, which is considered an important infrastructure initiative that may lead to changes in routes or the operational framework of public transportation services to ensure integration with the future metro system. In line with this development, the public transport operator, a Bahraini-British partnership between the British company National Express and Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali (AMA), will also undertake upgrades to its existing fleet. The company currently operates over 140 buses of various sizes, including smaller buses manufactured by the British company Optare and medium to large buses produced by the German company MAN. These buses serve 26 routes across different regions of the Kingdom. Since the launch of the new service in 2015, the buses have transported approximately 100 […]
2 hours ago
Flip through our magazines online and read amazing content.
