Man To Face Trial Today Over Deadly Boat Crash

Gulf Insider15-04-2025

The Minor Criminal Court will open the trial today of a man accused of causing a fatal boat crash, sources have confirmed to The Daily Tribune. He is charged with manslaughter, failing to switch on navigation lights while at sea, shrimp fishing during the seasonal ban, and using a trawling net known locally as Koofa.
The crash took place on the morning of 25 December in Bahrain's western waters. Two men, aged 55 and 61, one from Karzakan and the other from Manama, died after their boat collided with another. Three others were taken to hospital.
Also read: Investor Wins BD4,600 Over Business Deal Scam

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Daily Tribune

6 days ago

Daily Tribune

A Fur-Real experience

This dog landed at Bahrain International Airport with an Arab family, arriving from a destination just three hours away. The pet had all travel documents in place — permits, health checks, and approvals — and passed through airport checks without issue. But the moment the plane touched down; things took an unexpected turn. The airline decided not to release the dog. No reason was given. No one informed the family. Instead, the dog was quietly put on the next outbound flight. These details came to light when the Minor Commercial Court ordered the state-owned airline to pay BD1,275 in damages. According to court files, the airline had accepted the pet for travel, but refused to hand it over on arrival. With no explanation, the crew member blocked the release and the animal was flown back the next day. The devastated family, unable to act, had to arrange care for the dog overseas. It took nearly a month to get a new permit and bring the animal back to Bahrain. The whole ordeal cost them over Euro2,500. The case was brought before the court by the dog's owner, represented by lawyer Rabab Mahdi. She told the court the family had planned the trip well in advance — including the pet's journey — and had followed all required procedures. The airline, she said, failed to provide any justification for its decision. The children were left distressed and the family was forced to hire a pet care company abroad until the dog could be returned. Later, the airline admitted fault in an email. It offered to refund the pet's ticket and provide a discount on future flights. But that didn't come close to covering the losses — prompting legal action. A witness told the court she had contacted the airline's call centre before travel and was advised to complete the booking at the airport. Bahrain Airport confirmed there was no issue with the pet's entry. The court said the airline had accepted the dog for transport to Bahrain, then refused to release it without explanation. It did not dispute the facts or prove any fault on the claimant's part. The airline also failed to show it had taken any steps to prevent the harm or that doing so was impossible. The owner submitted payment records showing Euro2,600 spent on care, transport, and new bookings. The court ordered the airline to pay BD1,275.980 in compensation.

Gulf Insider

14-05-2025

Gulf Insider

Holiday Scam Hits Bahrain

What began as a clever way to beat summer's soaring flight prices has now left hundreds of Bahrain residents with nothing but broken holiday dreams and empty wallets. As social media buzzed with travellers boasting of cheaper fares by stopping over in Asian or European cities before heading home, a Gudaibiya-based travel firm saw an opportunity. Its representatives began approaching visitors at busy malls across the Kingdom, offering lucky draws for a chance to win a 'mini-vacation' stopover package this summer. Old scam, new twist While baiting shoppers with lucky draws and free crockery giveaways to push overpriced travel deals is an old scam, this version was far more convincing. It tapped into the trending 'travel hack' for avoiding summer peak fares – and it worked. Anil Thomas (name changed), one of many victims, said he lost nearly BD500. 'We thought it was a genuine offer. They promised flight tickets with stopovers in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand or even Maldives, combined with stays in luxury hotels, at a fraction of the peak season rates,' he told The Daily Tribune. Anil, who has since lodged complaints with the police, Tawasul and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, added, 'They even offered flexible packages – travel any time within three years. People with families were their main targets, charging different rates for different destinations.' Vanished without a trace Anil's own booking – a supposed Singapore-Malaysia-India trip, later changed to Maldives due to a claimed 'visa issue' – was due to begin this week. Instead, the family of four was left packed and ready, but no tickets ever arrived. Calls went unanswered and the Gudaibiya office was shuttered. 'The company's commercial registration is about to expire in June. I believe they've scammed hundreds and fled the country,' Anil alleged. 'When I spoke to hotel staff, they told me that the travel company had booked the conference hall for every day of the week for the past year. They were running this operation for a full year, continuously duping people. What has come out now is only the tip of the iceberg.' According to him, the scam operated on an industrial scale. 'They hired conference halls at hotels in Seef, where families were brought in droves after being told they had won a lucky draw at a mall. The halls were packed every day of the week. EMI payment options made it easy for people to fall for the deal,' he said. Anil has since begun contacting other victims through social media. 'Many people are ashamed to come forward. But silence only encourages more scams,' he warned. Company silent When The Daily Tribune contacted the travel company for a response, the company did not reply by the time of publication. Also read: Bahrain Ranks First In MENA & GCC Regions In The Global Network Excellence Index

Gulf Insider

15-04-2025

Gulf Insider