Ex-Bahrain banker files U.N. complaint over travel ban

MANAMA
Sun May 30, 2010 11:05am EDT


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MANAMA (Reuters) - The former chief executive of Bahrain-based bank TIBC has filed a complaint at the United Nations against Bahrain for being prevented from leaving the island kingdom for over 10 months, his lawyers said.
World
Glenn Stewart, a U.S. citizen who is now back in his home country, had a travel ban issued against him in June 2009 related to the bank's troubles, they said.
"He is and has been unable to travel due to the wrongful and unfounded imposition of a travel ban imposed against him on or about June 29, 2009," his lawyers said in a letter to the United National Human Rights Council dated May 25. He has now left Bahrain in defiance of the ban, his spokeswoman said .
In July 2009, Bahrain's central bank seized control of The International Banking Corporation and Awal Bank citing a shortfall in their assets compared to their liabilities.
Stewart's lawyers said the travel ban of unlimited duration had violated his human rights. They said Bahrain had used travel bans "to keep foreign citizens under unwarranted virtual house arrest in Bahrain without being charged, financial support, or a means of judicial review."
A spokeswoman for Stewart told Reuters he had left Bahrain sometime late last week, but declined to provide details on how he managed to leave.
Officials at Bahrain's public prosecution and the central bank were not immediately available for comment.
The Gulf Arab region is often criticized for its weak human rights record and the arbitrary nature of its legal systems.
Bahraini courts often issue travel bans against Bahrainis and foreigners, with pending cases in its legal system that can take years to resolve although long bans for foreigners are rare. Other Gulf countries have sometimes followed a similar practice.
(Reporting by Frederik Richter; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)