Manama: A domestic helper accused of luring a 13-year-old boy into having an intimate relationship that resulted in the birth of a baby girl has been sentenced to one year in prison.

The helper, a 32-year-old Indonesian, reportedly shared a room with the boy as the family did not have a private space for her, a situation that resulted in the relationship between them.

The case was filed by the boy’s family after they discovered the helper had given birth to a girl in the bathroom. They took her to hospital and were shocked to learn the newborn was in fact their granddaughter.

The helper reportedly confessed to having sex with the boy although she initially said she was the victim of sexual abuse and that the boy had raped her.

The court said that it based its ruling partly on the helper’s confession during the investigations and before the judges that she had an intimate relationship with the boy for a year, even after becoming pregnant.

However, both parties in the case said they would appeal the court sentence.

According to Ebtisam Al Sabbagh, the boy’s lawyer, investigations launched by the public prosecution and the centre to protect children revealed that his level of consciousness was limited and the helper took advantage of the fact they shared a room to start a physical relationship.

The lawyer added that the helper did not tell anyone when she became pregnant and that the family was shocked to discover she had delivered a baby.

However, Siham Slaibeekh, the helper’s lawyer, said that the helper was not aware of the real age of the boy and that he looked a lot older than he actually was.

The lawyer, who said that she decided to take up the case after she saw the helper with her daughter, argued that there was no case against her client and that she was innocent and deserved to be kept out of jail.

Approximately 12,000 Indonesians live in Bahrain, and work mainly as domestic helpers in private homes.