Bahrain: Trial Begins For Businessman Accused Of Arson – Gulf Insider
The High Criminal Court has opened trial for a 36-year-old Bahraini businessman accused of setting fire to his father’s residence and verbally abusing his sister, alleging they had cast a spell on him. The defendant claimed he did not intend to start the fire but admitted to verbally abusing his sister.
The Public Prosecution charged him with intentionally setting fire to his father’s property on July 15, endangering others’ lives and property, and verbally insulting his sister with offensive language.
The incident was recounted by the defendant’s sister, a 45-year-old woman, who heard sounds of breaking and screaming coming from his room. The defendant confronted them, accusing them of casting a spell on him, but her father responded that his hallucinations were due to drug use.
The defendant verbally insulted them and threatened to set them and the house on fire before retreating to his room. The sister noticed smoke emanating from beneath the door and called her father to contact the police. The Civil Defence report confirmed that the fire was deliberate.
