A Bahraini man who fought criminal charges and demolition threats over a 10-year-old construction can now heave a sigh of relief for the High Appeals Court told the authorities they had exhausted their right to litigate against the illegal construction after three years of inaction.
The villa owner had expanded the first floor without obtaining a licence from the competent authority. However, he had completed that act with the end of construction and never repeated it,” the court said. “Therefore, it’s an ‘instantaneous’ crime, “Besides, if three years have passed without filing a lawsuit, the competent authority also forfeits its right to file a lawsuit. “Therefore, the court rules in favour of the appellant,” the verdict said.
The court also overruled the criminal charges, citing the expiry of the criminal case by lapse of time.
