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A man sentenced to three years in prison for burning the car of a woman who rejected his hand in marriage has been granted a retrial.
The 31-year-old Bahraini border agent started sending the Bahraini woman threats and told her he ‘intended to do evil’ after he learned that she was getting married to another man, the court heard.
The defendant was found guilty in 2024 in absentia of purposefully setting a vehicle on fire, damaging the wall of the house it was parked next to as well as the awning.
On top of the jail time, the judges ordered him to pay the woman BD4,600 as compensation for her Toyota Camry, BD499 to her father for damage to the wall, and another BD720 for the shades.
Since he was unable to defend himself in the initial trial, he lodged an objection at the High Criminal Court, and the court is now hearing his side of the story.
“I have a shallow relationship with the defendant, as we just sent each other text messages from time to time,” the 31-year-old unemployed woman earlier testified.
“I was going through a financial hardship, and I asked for his help. He transferred BD800 in various transactions.
“In January 2024, I got engaged, and when he found out, he demanded the money back. We agreed that I’d pay it back in BD100 instalments every month.
“One day, he contacted me and threatened to stir up trouble. One morning in March 2024, I woke up to my brother telling me that my car was on fire. I was able to identify the defendant in CCTV recordings.”
Various witnesses testified to seeing the defendant near the Galali house, while another stated that he had come to his home to take a shower, and ditched the clothes he was wearing when he committed the arson.
A neighbour of the victim said he saw the suspect appear confused near her house before smoke rose from her vehicle.
Meanwhile, the convict denied the accusations, giving an entirely different account dismissing his involvement in the arson.
“I knew the woman’s brothers for a long time as we live in the same area,” the man earlier stated.
“Some time ago, I received a message request on Instagram from their sister – the witness – who said she was at a station in Saudi Arabia and needed BD800 right away.
“She said none of her family was responding and she needed the money fast, so I wired her the amount, and contact between us ceased. I would occasionally ask her about the money, but she avoided answering.
“A week ago, my car was in the garage, and I’d already paid a BD400 deposit to the mechanic, but I needed another BD600 for the fees. I asked her for the money back, and she said she’d return it in instalments.”
The court adjourned the hearing to August 9 for defence arguments.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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