AUTHORITIES have pledged to not take legal action against the parents of a two-year-old boy, who was found in a busy suq on Wednesday night. They suspect the parents to be expatriates living illegally in Bahrain and have urged them to come forward to collect their son.

The child was at the Bab Al Bahrain Police Station until yesterday when he was transferred to the Batelco Child Care Centre in Seef District.

The two-year-old boy was found by police in the Manama Suq near Imam Al Hussain Avenue wearing a red T-shirt and calling out for his parents.

Officers have searched the area since 10.30pm on Wednesday, but no one has come forward or filed a missing person’s report since.

“We believe that the parents may not have legal residency in Bahrain, and are afraid to come forward to claim this child,” said Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) chief executive officer Ausamah Al Absi.

“The LMRA would like to inform that it will not take any action towards the parents of the child when they come forward to claim him in case their work permit or residency has expired, terminated or not in order in any way.”

Capital Governorate Police Directorate investigation division head Major Mohammed Al Buainain told the GDN they had no option but to refer the boy to a child care centre yesterday.

“No one has come forward until now and there is no report filed of a missing child in any police station,” said Major Al Buainain.

“Our teams are still conducting their investigations to track down the parents of the child.”
Anyone with information about the child or his parents are being urged to contact the Bab Al Bahrain Police Station on 17390590 or the emergency services number 999 or the Batelco Child Care Centre on 39146208.