Two managers at a chain electronics store are on trial for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting an employee in their branch, after accusing him of stealing cash from the workplace.
The men aged 49 and 26 were charged with keeping the employee captive, using force and violence to gang up on him, but denied the accusations at the High Criminal Court.
In September, the two Bahrainis allegedly beat up the 39-year-old Bangladeshi worker, and locked him in the inner office of the store.
“The older defendant asked the victim to come to the office, then requested his passport, which he gave to him,” a statement by the Public Prosecution read.
“Then, he showed him clips of a video where he appears to be giving money to two other employees, claiming that it was evidence he was stealing from the company.
“They asked him for all his possessions, then the younger defendant assaulted him.
“The defendant then reached out to the victim’s brother, asking him to give back the money, threatening that they will not let his sibling go until he pays up. However, he stated he couldn’t be sure he will be able to pay.”
According to the so-called victim, the two defendants locked him inside the store office, and remained there with him until the next morning.
After the ordeal, he was asked to go to his apartment but not leave until he pays up.
The Bangladeshi man’s brother, a 35-year-old driver living in Qalali, gave an account similar to the one provided in the incident summary by the prosecution.
A third witness, also a Bangladeshi, testified that he was summoned to the office as well, and claimed he saw footage of an individual taking money from the cash register and putting it on one side.
When the victim was asked why he did what he did, he reportedly said that he was doing as his brother told him to.
During questioning, the younger defendant admitted to the assault, but stated he was following his elder co-defendant’s orders.
A medical report noted that the victim’s 8th and 9th ribs, on the right side of his torso, were dislocated, concluding that the injury is consistent with the alleged attack as it was narrated by the witnesses.
According to court documents, the so-called victim is currently in Jaw Prison, but there is no mention of the reason why he is there.
The defendants appeared before judges, denying everything and stating that the case has been settled amicably.
However, the trial continues.
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