Ex-mayor, 3 others charged over 2009 Jeddah floods

JEDDAH: The Control and Investigation Board has charged a former mayor, two famous businessmen and a former deputy mayor for allegedly causing Jeddah floods of November 2009 that killed 123 people and destroyed 11,929 houses and 10,321 vehicles.
It accused the mayor (first defendant) of receiving a bribe of SR 5 million from a famous businessman (Defendant No. 2) through another businessman (Defendant No. 3) for getting a work done for him with the mayor’s permission.
As per the first businessman’s request, the mayor agreed to change the construction plan at two districts in central Jeddah as the mayor sent letters to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs requesting change in building construction plan.
The bureau accused the mayor of misusing power and violating existing rules and instructions to realize his vested interests. The mayor is also accused of approving a proposal made by Defendant No. 4 allowing citizens to construct buildings in the pathway of floods.
In order to prevent floods, the mayor approved building of a tunnel and a number of canals that would pass by Um Alkhair. He did this in violation of two royal decrees.
Explaining the charges against Defendant No. 2, the bureau said he bribed Defendant No. 1 through Defendant No. 3, who was accused of helping Defendant No. 2 to pay the bribe money. Defendant No. 4 was charged with supporting Defendant No. 1 in misusing power.
The bureau said Defendant No. 1 had acknowledged accepting a bribe of SR 5 million and receiving messages related to the development of Um Alkhair and Faraj Al-Musaed residential districts from his deputy, who is Defendant No. 4. Defendant No. 1 is charged with violating two royal decrees that prevent construction and ownership of properties in the pathways of floods, said a report carried by Okaz, adding that the former mayor should not have allowed construction of buildings in the area.
According to Defendant No. 3, the former mayor asked Defendant No. 2 to pay SR 5 million for constructing three-story buildings. Defendant No. 2, accompanied by Defendant No. 3 visited the mayor’s residence and paid SR 1 million in cash. The mayor then asked Defendant No. 2 to include him as a shareholder in the real estate project for the remaining amount of SR 4 million. He later gave a check for SR 1 million to make SR 5 million his total contribution.
According to the charges against Defendant No. 4, he had proposed the construction of a tunnel and canals for diverting floodwaters from the two residential districts. He had also told the mayor to allow people to construct buildings in the flood pathways.
The bureau asked the court to try Defendants No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the basis of articles No. 1, 10 and 15 of the Anti-Bribery Law and Paragraph No. 5, Article Two of the Royal Decree No. 73 of 1377H, the paper said.