A MAN is standing trial at the High Criminal Court for allegedly impersonating a police officer, assaulting a restaurant employee and stealing BD410 in cash.
The 40-year-old Bangladeshi national, who resides in Hoora, reportedly carried out the crime with two unidentified accomplices, who still remain at large.
The incident occurred in October when the victim, a restaurant manager in Manama, was approached by the trio at his workplace.
According to the victim’s testimony, the group claimed that they were conducting an inspection for alcoholic substances following a complaint against the restaurant.
“They barged into the restaurant and told me that they worked with the police,” the victim testified in court.
“They said they had received a complaint about the sale of alcoholic drinks at the restaurant, which is entirely false. We do not sell any such beverages.
“I told them they were free to inspect the premises as we had nothing to hide and that we would co-operate fully with them.
“But instead of probing the restaurant, they insisted that they needed to search my personal accommodation, claiming I might be hiding a secret supply of alcohol there.”
According to court documents, the victim agreed to accompany the men to his flat, believing their claims to be legitimate. However, upon arriving at the accommodation, the men allegedly turned violent.
“The man pretending to be a police officer suddenly lunged at me, punching me in the face twice,” the victim claimed.
“The other two grabbed me from behind and restrained me. While I was unable to move, one of them went through my pockets and took BD410 in cash.”
The victim said though he attempted to resist, he was overpowered by the men who left him injured on the floor of his flat before fleeing the scene.
He then contacted the police to report the incident and was informed by officers that no complaint had been registered against the restaurant.
“Officers told me that no inspection has been ordered in the premises and that I had been assaulted and robbed by conmen,” he said.
“I immediately filed a police report to recover the stolen money as soon as possible.”
Authorities launched an investigation and reviewed security camera footage from the restaurant.
The video evidence showed three men escorting the victim out of the premises and into a dimly-lit alleyway leading to his accommodation.
The police later managed to identify and arrest the Bangladeshi national.
However, the other two men involved in the alleged crime remain unidentified and their whereabouts are still unknown. It is unclear if they are still in Bahrain or have fled the kingdom.
The accused was confronted with the evidence during interrogation. He was subsequently referred for trial at the High Criminal Court, where he is facing charges relating to assaulting and impersonating a police officer.
He denied the allegations during the first hearing.
The case has been adjourned until December 24.
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