MAKKAH, 16 January 2008 — The Court of Grievances in Makkah yesterday ordered the Traffic Department to pay SR5,000 in damages to a citizen for detaining him overnight without any legitimate reason.

Mashhour Al-Sharief filed a complaint at the Court of Grievances citing that the traffic law does not allow detention of a person except after trial. He demanded that charges against him be revoked and damages paid.

The traffic police in Makkah detained Al-Sharief for speeding. Commenting on the verdict, Nawaf Al-Ghalib, Al-Sharief’s lawyer, said truth would always prevail.

“According to Article 175 of the Traffic Law, copies of traffic tickets should be presented to the panel that decides punishments for violations within 10 days of issuing a ticket,” he explained.

“If the committee decides to detain the violator, Article 177 allows him to avoid punishment by paying more than the lowest fine,” he pointed out.

“Consequently, the detention of my client soon after the violation was against the law.”

Al-Sharief, on his part, commended the Saudi justice system, adding that it does not favor any party, even if it is a government department.

“Everybody is equal before the law,” he added. “Nobody should be allowed to use his power to harm others.”