JEDDAH: The absence of the defendant, Faisal Al-Otaibi, (also known as “Abu Kab”) from the court during the hearing yesterday prompted the Jeddah summary court to postpone the announcement of the verdict to next Monday.
Al-Otaibi faces public execution for three deaths caused because of joy riding he was involved in.
A new committee at the court reviewed the case based on the directive from the Court of Cassation after a judge issued the death verdict for the killing of two brothers and another boy caused due to the joy riding.
The high-profile case of Abu Kab began in late 2005 when the young naval officer rented a car and took four young boys with him joy riding.
According to the results of an investigation involving witness testimony, Al-Otaibi performed a drifting stunt at 120 kmph that resulted in a crash and the death of the three passengers.
According to Saudi law, capital punishment has to be endorsed by the Court of Cassation before the condemned can be executed.
The Cassation Court in this case called for a re-trial because it considered the death penalty too extreme for a case involving accidental death. The family of the two brothers who died is seeking severe punishment.
