The Lower Criminal Court in Manama recently acquitted a company owner who was accused of employing a food delivery worker without a permit. The initial criminal order that fined him BD1,000 was dismissed after the court found inconsistencies in the investigation. The worker in question was operating a motorcycle bearing the logo of a food delivery company, but investigations revealed that he did not have a valid work permit. The defense lawyer argued that there was no genuine employer-employee relationship between the two defendants and pointed out the lack of a translator for the worker, who did not speak Arabic.
The defense lawyer, Mariam Al Sakran, highlighted several inconsistencies in the case, including the fact that the worker lacked a valid work permit despite wearing company attire and using a company motorcycle. She also emphasized that the defendant denied the charges against him. The court’s decision was based on the evidence that the worker was using an account registered under another person’s name who had a work relationship with the company. This raised reasonable doubt about the existence of an employer-employee relationship between the two defendants, leading to the acquittal of the company owner.
The defense’s argument was further strengthened by the fact that the worker, who was of Asian origin and did not speak Arabic, was not provided with a translator during the investigation. This highlighted another inconsistency in the case and raised questions about the validity of the evidence against the company owner. The court ultimately found that there was not enough evidence to prove that the company owner had employed the worker without a permit, leading to his acquittal and the dismissal of the initial fine imposed on him.
The court’s decision to acquit the company owner was a result of the reasonable doubt raised by the evidence provided by the defense. The fact that the worker was using an account registered under another person’s name who had a work relationship with the company cast doubt on the charges against the company owner. The lack of a translator for the worker during the investigation further added to the inconsistencies in the case and weakened the prosecution’s argument. Ultimately, the court found that there was not enough evidence to convict the company owner of employing the worker without a permit.
In conclusion, the acquittal of the company owner in this case highlights the importance of thorough investigation and strong defense in criminal cases. The defense lawyer’s ability to point out inconsistencies in the case and raise reasonable doubt about the charges against her client played a crucial role in the court’s decision. It also underscores the significance of providing language assistance to non-Arabic speakers during legal proceedings to ensure fair treatment. Ultimately, the court’s decision to acquit the company owner demonstrates the need for strong evidence and a solid legal defense in criminal cases.
