BCC 405/2018

This case involved some individuals who were accused of running a place for prostitution and others accused of prostitution. Most of the individuals were convicted and sentenced and the place was closed. A key issue was whether the police investigation had provided sufficient evidence this place was being used for prostitution.

Background

The office of public prosecution accused five defendants of managing a place for prostitution and accused other defendants of prostitution. The office requested the court to penalize the defendants according to the relevant laws.

The court acquitted the second defendant. The court ruled that the first, third, fourth and fifth defendants should be imprisoned for one year and that they should be deported from Bahrain after the execution of their punishment. The court ruled that the other defendants should be imprisoned for six months.

The office appealed the ruling before the court of appeal. The court amended the appealed ruling and ruled that the place under consideration should be closed and upheld the appealed ruling otherwise.