Lawyers who ‘defamed’ Kingdom ignore hearing

Riyadh : Two lawyers accused of criticizing the Saudi government including the Ministry of Justice failed to turn up at their disciplinary hearing here recently, according to a local media report.

A source said that a third accused had asked for more time to prepare for the hearing held by a committee known as a “Disciplinary Board” set up by the Justice Ministry. The committee consists of a judge and two experts, one of whom is a lawyer.

A legal source said the lawyers who failed to turn up risk giving up the opportunity to offer a defense to the allegations. The committee could issue a verdict against them by assuming they had waived the right to defend themselves.

Article 32 of the code states that the “Disciplinary Board may require his personal appearance, and if he fails to appear after having been summoned twice, the board may issue an ex parte decision.”
He said that the lawyers need not have appeared in person at the committee and could have appointed legal representation to do so.

He said the Kingdom’s code of conduct for lawyers stipulates several penalties for those who violate the law. Under Article 29, these include a warning, reprimand, suspension from practicing for a period not exceeding three years, having their names struck from the ministry’s list of practicing lawyers, or having their licenses revoked.

The code stipulates that the transgression would cover any act that violates its provisions or its implementing regulations, or if a lawyer “commits a breach of his professional duties, or any act that may be incompatible with professional standards.”

The source said that if a lawyer is struck off the roll, the decision is sent to the courts and the Board of Grievances as notification that he or she is not allowed to practice. A lawyer in this position has 60 days to file an appeal.

The three lawyers are accused of using Twitter to defame the government including the Justice Ministry, security apparatus and foreign affairs policy. They allegedly ridiculed services offered to citizens and weakened public trust in government bodies.

They allegedly undermined the judiciary by publicly criticizing rulings by some judges. They also allegedly encouraged other lawyers to do the same. They also published several tweets that allegedly ridiculed the Kingdom’s relations with some Arab countries.

A preliminary committee looking into violations of the country’s media laws fined the three over SR1.2 million and banned them from publishing any material.

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Saudi prisoner dies in Jordan road accident

Jeddah : A Saudi prisoner in Jordan and four others, including two Jordanian policemen, died in a road accident involving a security vehicle in Amman on Sunday, sabq.org reported Monday.

The accident took place while the security officers were transporting the Saudi prisoner to the civilian court for trial. Thirteen people were injured in the accident that took place on Yaduda road, near the zoo.

The report said five vehicles were involved in the crash as the driver of a truck coming from the opposite direction lost control and collided with four vehicles.

Jordanian police said they have launched an investigation into the accident and the case would be sent to court.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has cautioned Saudis traveling to Jordan against possible fraudsters. “We have learned from the Saudi Embassy in Amman that many Saudis, especially businessmen, have been subjected to fraud and cheating in Jordan,” it said.

The embassy has advised Saudis to inform it before concluding any business deals, adding that it would provide them with free legal advice.

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Police deport man wanted in Yemen for murder

Riyadh : Police have arrested a Yemeni youth for his involvement in a murder in Yemen.

According to Riyadh police, the arrest was made after the Criminal Investigations Department of the Yemeni government received word that the suspect was hiding in the Saudi capital.

The suspect allegedly murdered a fellow Yemeni back home and had been living in the Kingdom as a migrant worker.

On arrest, Riyadh police found that the suspect had been residing in the Kingdom illegally.

A police spokesman said that the arrest was symbolic of extensive, longstanding cooperation between the two countries. The suspect is being extradited and will be tried by the Yemeni government.

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Nahid probe: Saudi team to visit Britain

Jeddah : Saudi Arabia will send a team to the UK to investigate the circumstances that led to the murder of a Saudi student in Essex last month, said Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif, who met Sunday with the family of Nahid Almanea who was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant.

“The government has given utmost importance to the issue and will send a team of investigators to the UK to follow up the case,” the prince told the family members during the meeting in Jeddah.

Raed Almanea, brother of Nahid, confirmed the report that Prince Mohammed had promised them to send the team within a few days.

He said a group of British investigators had come to Jeddah and expressed their condolences to his father and family members.

Nahid, 31, was stabbed 16 times on Salary Brook Trail in Colchester, Essex, on June 17.

Police said they were working with the evidence available to catch the killer.

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