Latest news with #BD86
Gulf Insider
17-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: School Trio Splurged Stolen BD86,000 On Luxury Lifestyle
Forging documents to siphon off BD86,000 has landed three members of a technical secondary school in deep trouble, with investigators revealing they blew the stolen funds on everything from coffee shops and fashion to insurance, beauty salons and car payments. The first defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined over BD75,000, with an order to repay the same amount. The second was handed three years and fined BD10,897, while the third received a one-year sentence and a BD790 fine. Both were also told to return the sums they had taken. The trio, all employees at the school, are now appealing their convictions. The Fifth High Criminal Court of Appeal heard the case this week. One defendant appeared from custody, while the other two arrived from outside detention. Judges postponed the hearing to 28 May 2025, giving time for a court expert to finalise a report on the missing funds. The case was triggered by a report from the Ministry of Education, which uncovered financial and administrative irregularities during internal checks. The Anti-Corruption Directorate and the Financial Intelligence National Centre later confirmed that more than 200 school-issued cheques had been involved, some of which were paid into personal accounts or cashed out. The first defendant admitted forging documents and signing cheques in his own name rather than that of suppliers. He expressed regret to the school head. The second and third admitted helping him secure and process ted helping him secure and process the cheques. An investigator said school payments were handled by the first and third defendants. A financial analyst told the court that records showed a pattern of personal spending-including clinic bills, fuel, café receipts, cinema tickets and men's clothing. Some vendors said their names had been used on fake invoices, while others confirmed the transactions shown on the paperwork did not match any real business. The public prosecution had pressed for the harshest penalties, saying the acts were a clear betrayal of public trust and taxpayer money.
Daily Tribune
17-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
School trio splurged stolen BD86,000 on luxury lifestyle
Forging documents to siphon off BD86,000 has landed three members of a technical secondary school in deep trouble, with investigators revealing they blew the stolen funds on everything from coffee shops and fashion to insurance, beauty salons and car payments. The first defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined over BD75,000, with an order to repay the same amount. The second was handed three years and fined BD10,897, while the third received a one-year sentence and a BD790 fine. Both were also told to return the sums they had taken. The trio, all employees at the school, are now appealing their convictions. The Fifth High Criminal Court of Appeal heard the case this week. One defendant appeared from custody, while the other two arrived from outside detention. Judges postponed the hearing to 28 May 2025, giving time for a court expert to finalise a report on the missing funds. The case was triggered by a report from the Ministry of Education, which uncovered financial and administrative irregularities during internal checks. The Anti-Corruption Directorate and the Financial Intelligence National Centre later confirmed that more than 200 school-issued cheques had been involved, some of which were paid into personal accounts or cashed out. The first defendant admitted forging documents and signing cheques in his own name rather than that of suppliers. He expressed regret to the school head. The second and third admitted helping him secure and process the cheques. An investigator said school payments were handled by the first and third defendants. A financial analyst told the court that records showed a pattern of personal spending—including clinic bills, fuel, café receipts, cinema tickets and men's clothing. Some vendors said their names had been used on fake invoices, while others confirmed the transactions shown on the paperwork did not match any real business. The public prosecution had pressed for the harshest penalties, saying the acts were a clear betrayal of public trust and taxpayer money.
Biz Bahrain
18-03-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
(iGA releases its January 2025 Foreign Trade report
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has released its January 2025 Foreign Trade report, which encompasses data on Trade Balance, Imports, national origin Exports and Re-exports. As per the report, the value of non-oil imports has decreased by 7% reaching to BD496 million in January 2025 in comparison with BD535 million for same month in 2024. The top 10 countries for imports recorded 72% of the total value of imports. According to the report, Australia ranked first for imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD92 million (19%), followed by China with BD74 million (15%) and The United Arab Emirate with 37 million (7%). Other Aluminum Oxide recorded as the top product imported to Bahrain with a total value of BD86 million (17%), followed by Non-Agglomerated Iron Ores and Concentrates with BD28 million (6%) and Private Cars being the third with BD21 million (4%). On the other hand, the total value of non-oil exports (National Origin) increased slightly by 0.3% to reach BD351 million during January 2025, compared to BD350 million for same month in 2024. The top 10 countries in exports (National Origin) accounted for 74% of the exports (National Origin) value. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries for then non-oil exports (National Origin) with BD79 million (23%). The United Arab Emirate was second with BD42 million (12%) and Qatar was third with BD40 million (11%). Agglomerated Iron Ores and Concentrates Alloyed recorded as the top products exported in January 2025 with BD92 million (26%), followed by Unwrought Aluminum Alloys with a value of BD56 million (16%) and Processed Cheese Not Grated or Powdered with BD22 million (6%). The total value of non-oil Re-exports increased by 6% to reach BD71 million during January 2025, compared to BD67 million for same month in 2024. The top 10 countries in Re-exports accounted for 84% of the re-exported value. The United Arab Emirate ranked first with BD26 million (37%) followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with BD16 million (23%) and Qatar with BD4 million (6%). As per the report, Gold Ingots was the top product re-exported from Bahrain with a value of BD5.9 million (8.3%), followed by Smartphone BD5.6 million (7.9%), and Four wheel drive came third with BD5.5 million (7.7%). As for the Trade Balance, which represents the difference between exports and imports, the deficit recorded BD74 million dinars in January 2025 compared to a deficit of BD118 million in January 2024. BNA(R)
Gulf Insider
13-02-2025
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: Prosecution Seeks Toughest Penalty for Three Staff in BD86,000 School Fraud
The Chief Prosecutor of the Financial Crimes and Money Laundering Directorate has unveiled solid evidence against three employees, aged 46, 34 and 33, of a public technical secondary school, who are accused of embezzling over BD86,000 from school funds. The allegations stem from a series of fraudulent activities, including forgery of official documents, which enabled the accused to misappropriate funds. The case was adjourned until February 25, as the High Criminal Court prepares to announce its verdict in the case, while the defence urged the judges to hear testimonies from the prosecution witnesses, including the investigative committee formed by the Ministry of Education. During the court hearing yesterday, the Chief Prosecutor presented both written and oral arguments, stressing the need for the maximum possible penalties for the accused due to the severity of their crimes. He stated that the evidence clearly establishes the elements of the crime, supported by both testimonial and material evidence.
Gulf Insider
05-02-2025
- Gulf Insider
School Staff Stole BD86,000, Blew It On Salons And Cars
Cheque fraud and cafe bills — three school employees accused of pocketing BD86,000 meant for their workplace and splashing it on beauty salons, cinemas, and personal expenses will argue their case on 11 February, as court keeps the prime suspect behind bars. The prosecution claims the trio, who worked at a technical secondary school, played fast and loose with school funds, forging cheques and fiddling financial records before helping themselves. Instead of the money going where it should, it allegedly bankrolled a shopping spree that stretched from men's fashion stores to car dealerships and even covered personal electricity bills. At yesterday's hearing, the defendants turned up with their lawyers, who pushed for key witnesses to take the stand. They want testimony from the Education Ministry's investigation team, which put together financial reports on the case, and an expert to go over the money trail and report back. Prosecutors say the scam ran from 1 January 2019 to 30 April 2024. Accounts The three accused, all public employees, are charged with snatching BD86,891.895 from the school's accounts. Investigators claim they roped in the school principal, described as a well-intentioned public servant, to help without him knowing it. They allegedly tricked him into signing blank cheques, which the first defendant then filled out, naming himself and the others as recipients before cashing them in.
