A current MP will be unable to fight for his seat in the coming elections after a request to add his name to the voters’ list was rejected due to a verdict against him in a sexual harassment case.
He contested a decision by the governorate’s supervision committee not to include his name in the voters’ list, which would have made him eligible to contest the parliamentary election.
He took the case to the High Appeals Civil Court ‘Special Elections Court’ claiming that he was still under ‘parliamentary immunity’ making the decision invalid but his appeal was rejected.
Judges said in their verdict: “The MP has not appealed at any stage against the issued court verdict on the basis of his immunity status or presented documentation that the case has been nullified.
“No documents have been also presented for restitution.
“This brings us to the fact that there has been an active verdict with legal power and for that the supervision committee decision is right and that’s banning the individual from voting and contesting.”
The MP had been found guilty of sexual harassment in a case involving phone communication with a woman in 2019, while being under public representation in Parliament, and was fined an undisclosed amount. The case verdict remained on his record as it was uncontested at the time, the court ruled.
Under election rules, any active case that involves honour and honesty, prohibits voting or running for office.
A potential candidate hoping to win a seat in the Muharraq Governorate had his request to include his name in the voters’ lists also rejected for an active case that allegedly involves operating as a pharmacist without a licence.
The candidate told court that a message was sent rejecting a request to include his name without the reasons being stated.
However, a hopeful Muharraq Governorate’s constituency five parliamentary candidate, had his name added to the list after filing an appeal to the supervision committee’s rejection proving his conviction was spent.
The candidate was accused and found guilty in 2019 of slandering a current MP but provided documentation showing that the appropriate amount of time had past in this specific case to allow him to be added to the voters’ lists, the court ruled.
Candidates have until today to contest decisions by supervision centres. The final verdicts will be issued on October 4 by the special court before those to wishing to contest can file their nominations on October 5 and until October 9.
Parliament and municipal elections are set for November 12. If a clear winner is not declared then a run-off round will be held on November 19.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))