The Bahrain High Appeals Court has commenced proceedings for the appeal of an Arab man and his son, who were convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia for their involvement in human trafficking.
The defendants, a man in his fifties and his son, appeared in court accompanied by their family members. The accused maintained that their involvement was limited to providing temporary accommodation to the victim due to her disputes with her husband, asserting they had no knowledge of any trafficking operation.
The victim, who had officially married the second defendant in their home country, alleged that she was forced into prostitution upon arriving in Bahrain for their honeymoon. She further claimed that the convicted man and his son coerced her into engaging in illicit activities and facilitated her transportation to clients.
The initial verdict sentenced the husband to 10 years in prison, with a similar sentence issued in absentia for the accused man in his fifties and his son. The defendants have now lodged an appeal, with the accused man presenting his wife as a witness to refute the allegations.
He clarified that he had been residing in Bahrain for several years, engaged in various business activities, and operated companies in multiple foreign countries.
