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Bahrain's highest court has ruled as invalid a final appeal by two expatriates who were found guilty of selling alcohol without a permit.
In April last year, the two men, identified only as Asians, were sentenced to a month behind bars by the Lower Criminal Court, which also ordered their deportation after completing their sentence.
The illicit alcohol sales reportedly took place in 2023 and 2024 in the Southern Governorate.
The High Criminal Appeals Court judges upheld the verdict against the duo but their lawyers then lodged a second appeal at Bahrain’s highest court.
However, Cassation Court judges found that this appeal had no leg to stand on, since the appellants had missed a crucial step in the appeals process.
“They did not lodge an objection in the High Criminal Appeals Court,” said their verdict.
“The door for objection is still open, especially as the court had no confirmation that the appellants received the verdict. They should have first gone to the High Criminal Appeals Court.
“Appealing at the Cassation Court is an avenue that is only to be taken if one has expended all their options. Cases can only be brought to the final court if all other options have been used, or if the deadline for objection has passed.
“Hence, the court finds that this appeal is not valid.”
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