A GARAGE owner is in the dock for allegedly seizing a vehicle belonging to his customer.
The 36-year-old Bahraini appeared at the Lower Criminal Court yesterday, where he denied charges of embezzlement.
The 26-year-old Bahraini victim told the court that the defendant had asked him to pay BD1,050 to collect his BMW after he took the car to the garage in Salmabad for a paint job last year.
“I took the red BMW to the defendant to paint it,” he said in his statement to prosecutors.
“However, he told me that I needed to register it and he would help me with the process.
“He paid BD700, on my behalf, to register the vehicle and finish some procedures.
“I told him that I had no money and that I would not be able to pay him back all at once.
“The BD700 was in addition to BD350 I owed him for the paint job.
“However, I was surprised when he informed me that he will not allow me to take back my car, so I filed a case.”
The garage owner, however, told public prosecutors that he would keep the vehicle until he received the payment.
“I did not embezzle anything, but the victim owes me money,” the 36-year-old said.
“If he wants to collect his vehicle, he should pay BD1,050. It’s not my fault if he does not have money.”
Defence lawyer Zaheda Al Sayed requested his client’s acquittal.
The trial has been adjourned until Tuesday for the victim and prosecution witnesses to take to the stand in court.
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