The High Civil Court has ordered a 40-year-old man convicted of sexual assault to pay BD18,000 in damages to his victim.
The court ruled that the man must pay BD15,000 to the victim for both material and emotional damages, and BD3,000 to her mother for emotional distress.
The case stemmed from an incident where the man falsely claimed to possess a private video of the victim and threatened to release it.
As the victim recounted, “He used this leverage to extort me and ultimately sexually assaulted me.” The man was initially convicted in a criminal court for sexual assault, harassment, and misuse of communication devices.
The victim, who was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and social phobia, continues to undergo therapy. As she stated, “The psychological harm inflicted upon me has been immense. I am still struggling to recover.”
The victim’s mother also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, as she explained, “This ordeal has taken a tremendous toll on our family.”
The court acknowledged the psychological harm inflicted upon the victim and her mother, ordering him to pay BD15,000 to the former, and BD3,000 to the latter.