POLICE officers were continuing to question a Bahraini man yesterday about his alleged involvement in the case of a 14-year-old Bahraini girl who was reported missing from her Isa Town home for nearly four days.
Schoolgirl Shahad Al Ghallaf was taken to Budaiya Police Station by two concerned citizens after the child stopped the men on Budaiya Highway, the Southern Police Directorate revealed in a statement.
A 31-year-old was arrested yesterday accused of sheltering the Bahraini girl, as reported on GDNonline.
In a later more detailed statement, the police described how an investigation was launched as soon as the incident was reported by the child’s mother Manal Marzook Khamis at 6pm on Friday. A team of crime scene forensic experts attended the scene, alongside other officials.
“A group of search and investigation teams was formed to review collected information,” the statement added. “Initial details indicated that the girl went on her own free will from the family’s home. There were no signs of abduction, as circulated on social media.
“Immediately after the girl was found, security, legal and health procedures were taken to ensure her safety.
“Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation identified a 31-year-old Bahraini man accused of helping her to run away and hide. Legal procedures are being taken to refer the suspect to the Public Prosecution.
“The directorate will continue investigating to uncover all the circumstances of the case,” it said calling upon the public to rely on information from official sources and to avoid listening to rumours.
“Out of social responsibility, circulating wrong information about the case should be stopped to prevent hindering investigations,” it added.
The GDN earlier reported that Shahad, a grade nine student at the Indian School, was helping her mother place picnic items into the family car near Block 806 on Cairo Road when she disappeared at around 6am last Friday. When she failed to return by teatime her concerned mother reported her missing to the police. The teenager had also left her phone behind which was unusual.
As the hours of waiting turned into days with no news of her whereabouts, her 40-year-old mum added that the entire family set out searching for the child, including her ex-husband, Yousif Al Ghallaf. They voiced their appreciation of the authorities’ efforts too.
“Police are questioning a man,” family friend and businesswoman Nada Al Omari, who offered a BD5,000 reward for Shahad’s safe return, told the GDN.
“We cannot reveal anything more – but the family is in touch with the police to better understand what happened.”
raji@gdn.com.bh
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