The Administrative Court in Jeddah acquitted yesterday six people of bribery charges in the November 2009 devastating Jeddah flood case. They included a prominent figure in the sports field as well as two government officials and a retired senior official.
Speaking to Arab News, Muhammad Al-Muanas, lawyer for the sports personality, said that one of the defendants was asked to pay a fine of SR 10,000 for practicing private work while working for the government.
“The government official was given the maximum punishment for committing the violation of engaging in a private job,” a high-ranking court source said. Al-Muanas said the charges against the defendants were not linked directly to the devastating Jeddah floods but involved alleged acceptance of bribery. Some of them were also charged with abuse of power and forgery of official documents. The public prosecutor can appeal the verdict.
The court also ruled that the acquitted suspects are free to lead their normal life and have freedom of movement.
There were dramatic scenes in the courtroom in the trial proceedings before the pronouncement of the verdict when Al-Muanas’ client cried in front of the judge. Replying to queries from Arab News, the lawyer said that this was because of his realization of becoming a victim of injustice after being wrongfully implicated in the case. He also refuted reports that were attributed to his client’s crying to his feeling of regret for involvement in a crime. “We were scared at one time that the judges may have been deceived by the baseless charges but thanks to Allah, the Almighty, that has not happened, and he has now been exonerated,” he said.
The court has already issued verdicts against more than half a dozen people involved in the Jeddah flood cases. In the first verdict on May 21, the court awarded jail terms and fines to two defendants — one municipal official and a businessman. Each one of them was sentenced to five years in prison, in addition to fines amounting to SR 500,000.
Six cleared of bribery in Jeddah flood case
