Bahrain toughens penalties in sex crime

Bahrain has introduced stiffer penalties in a bid to curb sex crime, meting out life imprisonment for those convicted in child rape, a leading newspaper reported on Sunday.

Tougher punishment has been introduced in cases involving adult rape, vice and drunkenness in public, Alayam said.

The foreign affairs, defence and national security committee in the island Gulf Kingdom endorsed the new penalties after discussing proposed tough punishment against drunkenness in public, adult and child rape, prostitution, forgery, gambling and other offences.

The new law specifies a life imprisonment for those convicted in rape of children aged below six years and seven years in jail for other rape cases, the newspaper said.

Persons convicted of forcing others to indulge in vice will be jailed for a period of three to 10 years instead of two years. In case the victim is aged below 18 years, the penalty will be five to 15 years.

Under the new law, persons caught drunk in public will be jailed for a maximum one year or fined BD50. In case the offence is repeated, the punishment increases to two years or a fine of BD1,000.

Gamblers in pubic places could also be jailed for three months of fined BD100, the paper said.

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