A WOMAN convicted of forging cheques was cleared yesterday on appeal, after an expert said she didn't even speak the language they were signed in.

The Filipina, in her 30s, was accused of forging four cheques with a face value of BD3,000.

But she was acquitted by the High Criminal Appeals Court based on the testimony of a handwriting expert, who confirmed she did not sign the cheques.

The woman had earlier been jailed for 12 months by the Lower Criminal Court, but appealed against the verdict.

Her Bahraini employer had accused her of signing his name on the cheques, but the expert said the defendant could not even speak Arabic - let alone write his name.

Court documents state the defendant was recruiting maids from the Philippines for the Bahraini's company and the cheques were actually her commission.