Eight defendants involved in three separate cases have been convicted of illegally obtaining work permits using the commercial registrations (CRs) of non‑existent companies, the Public Prosecution announced yesterday.
In the first case, five defendants were sentenced to one year in prison each after being found guilty of securing 93 work permits through 51 fraudulent commercial registrations.
In the second case, a single defendant was fined BD61,000 for obtaining 61 work permits under 32 fictitious CRs.
The third case involved two defendants, who were fined BD40,000 and BD2,000 respectively, for acquiring 42 permits under 21 commercial registrations of fictitious companies.
All eight convicts will be permanently deported from the kingdom upon completion of their sentences.
According to the Public Prosecution, the offences were uncovered during routine inspections conducted by judicial officers on various commercial establishments.
The inspections revealed multiple suspicious commercial registrations, prompting authorities to launch a formal investigation.
The inquiry determined that the companies linked to these registrations did not exist.
Investigators questioned the defendants, ordered their arrest, documented witness testimonies, and examined relevant documents and electronic records.
Following the completion of these procedures, the cases were referred to the criminal courts, which subsequently issued the aforementioned verdicts.
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