Two expatriate women have been fined BD10 each and banned from the country for three years after being found guilty of working as cleaners on an hourly wage without a permit.
Their male employer, a co-defendant, was previously fined BD2,000 by the Lower Criminal Court for allowing them to work without obtaining the required permits.
One of the women appealed the ruling three times – first by filing an objection before the Lower Criminal Court, then taking the case to the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court and subsequently the Cassation Court.
However, all three courts upheld the verdict.
The appellant’s lawyer earlier argued that the evidence against her was not enough for a conviction, as the guilty verdict was based primarily on a violation report prepared by a Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) inspector.
He contended that the report alone was not enough to establish guilt unless supported by additional evidence. He also claimed that the initial ruling contained ‘vague and ambiguous statements’.
The lawyer argued that the case file lacked conclusive proof that the women were employed by the male co-defendant.
The three defendants were prosecuted after the LMRA launched an investigation into cleaning agencies operating as manpower providers, supplying domestic workers to private homes on an hourly basis.
According to the ruling, many advertisements for these agencies were found on Instagram, including the one linked to the suspects. Inspectors contacted the number listed in the advertisement and arranged for two cleaners to be sent to a location.
Upon their arrival, LMRA judicial officers identified themselves to the cleaners, who turned out to be the female suspects.
The employer was fined BD2,000, and the two workers BD10 each.
The women are also to be deported and barred from re-entering the country for three years.
Earlier this year, Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar urged families in Bahrain to hire domestic workers, whether on a full-time or hourly basis, only through licensed agencies and to verify workers’ identities before allowing them into their homes.
Col Dr Bahar also called on families to ensure that domestic workers undergo medical examinations and to verify their identification documents and credentials to confirm their authenticity.
The GDN has previously reported on several court cases involving expatriates convicted of luring domestic workers and forcing them into the vice trade.
According to the latest list published on the LMRA website, 120 approved manpower agencies are registered to recruit expatriate and domestic workers.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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