Bahrain: A Royal decree that allows people to travel abroad despite having financial court cases pending against them has been approved by parliament and referred to the Shura Council.
MPs yesterday voted in favour of the decree amending the court procedures law, which was issued in October three days before parliament’s second term started.
This came despite objections from some quarters that the Cabinet was pushing through too many decrees when MPs were in recess.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowment Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa told MPs that the decree was necessary to differentiate between precautionary bans and those issued by the Public Prosecution or courts.
He said that there were 4,500 individuals – both Bahrainis and expatriates – subject to travel bans due to financial commitments that they were obliged to pay. “It is more logical to pursue claims in the person’s home country, considering that they may have property and bank accounts there,” he said.
“Are we aiming to punish individuals or to get the owed money back?
“We were looking for a balance considering that many travel bans involve low amounts and keeping people here without work and turning them into beggars doesn’t help anyone.
“Also, if it is a Bahraini who owes money then banning him from travel wont make a difference to his ability to pay.”
MP Shaikh Majid Al Majid agreed, claiming that some companies use travel bans to harass people for payments as low as BD7.
However, parliament legislative and legal affairs committee chairman Ali Al Ateesh raised concerns that if Bahrainis pursue debtors abroad they “could be in danger” from what he termed “gangsters and criminals”.
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