Two men have been accused of benefiting from ‘wasta’ to carry out illegal shrimping operations during the annual ban of catching the crustacean.
A 32-year-old Coastguard officer and a 65-year-old fisherman are standing trial at the High Criminal Court. The two Bahrainis are currently in custody.
According to court documents, the officer allegedly aided his co-defendant to catch shrimp off-season by supplying him with confidential information to help him evade legal measures aimed at protecting limited stocks.
“The Interior Ministry employee had given out work secrets that he was not authorised to share with the public, for personal gain,” read the court charges.
“He informed his co-defendant about the locations and schedules of Coastguard patrols so he could avoid being caught red-handed illegally shrimping.”
‘Wasta’ is a popular term and is used to refer to everything from nepotism to collusion.
Two Bahrain Defence Force officers testified to the Public Prosecution about the alleged dodgy dealings of their colleague who lives in Muharraq.
“In return for quantities of shrimp, the defendant aided in illegal shrimping and smuggling efforts,” claimed a 30-year-old Crime Prevention Directorate officer.
The officer told prosecutors that he obtained a warrant from the military courts and military prosecution to wiretap the defendant’s phone and record his conversations.
After monitoring his calls and paying close attention to the numbers he contacted, the court heard how the alleged corruption took place.
The second officer, a fellow coast guardsman, told prosecutors about the nature of the department he and the defendant worked in.
“Our department is in charge of dealing with fishermen and sailors in a professional and objective manner,” he said. “Interactions are limited to work contexts only and we cannot form special relationships with any sailor.
“In addition to leaking Coastguard schedules and patrol routes, the defendant used his walkie-talkie to listen in on police activity on land and at sea.”
Both the accused Coastguard officer, from Muhharaq, and the sexagenarian, from A’ali, have denied the charges.
The court was told that accused fisherman had informed the Public Prosecution that his co-defendant had repeatedly approached him to offer the information.
“The man came to me at the Tubli fishing dock where my boat was, asked if I needed anything and then took my phone number,” the veteran fisherman said.
“He called me several times, asking when I will go to sea and when I will return, and whether I wanted to go catch shrimp.”
Court records indicate that he had previously been implicated in an illegal shrimping incident along with his son. They also mention that he received his shrimping licence 30 years ago, but that it was revoked seven years ago, and replaced with a general fishing licence.
The mandatory shrimping ban usually lasts six months from February to July each year to protect existing stocks and allow them to replenish.
Punishments stipulated in the 2002 Fishing Organisation, Practice and Protection Law would see offenders jailed up to a month, or fined between BD300 and BD1,000, or both, besides having their equipment and haul confiscated.
The hearing was adjourned to October 23.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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