TABUK, 27 November 2005 — The case of Alaauldeen, who is awaiting execution at a prison in Tabuk after conviction on a murder charge, has a new twist. An individual donated SR8 million to secure him pardon, but the lawyer hired to deliver the money has decided to keep it — leaving the convict closer to the executioner’s blade.
The philanthropist’s gesture has in fact resulted in stopping others from donating to save his life as they thought the case soon would be resolved.
The representative of the death-row inmate said that he received a call from the philanthropist’s lawyer saying that he would deliver the money; then he started stalling and giving excuses why he would not.
The lawyer who has the money first said he would deliver the money when the case of the Khamis Mushayt girl was resolved. He then said that he would not deliver the money regardless.
The family of the death-row inmate fears the lawyer may have used the money to buy stocks or for other personal uses. The prisoner, who saw hope for a while, is now living in fear and confusion. Al-Madinah newspaper met all parties involved in the case.
“I received a phone call from the lawyer saying that he had money from a philanthropist who donated SR8 million as blood money,” said Oudah ibn Saleh, the financial representative of the death-row inmate. “He asked me to have the phone number of the victim’s father to call him and collect the money. The father refused at first, but after I insisted he went to Makkah to receive the check, the lawyer refused to give him the check saying that I had to be there with him.”
There was always another hitch. “Because of my bad health, I authorized my son to go on my behalf, and I gave him all the documents of the case. The lawyer wasn’t at his office when my son got there. He said that he was too busy with the Khamis Mushayt case,” Saleh said.
“When the news of the donation broke out, people stopped giving donations thinking that it was enough, and the case will be resolved soon.”
Apparently, the lawyer believes the SR8 million will be his.
“The lawyer said that he would deliver the blood money when the case of the Khamis Mushayt girl was solved. This was untrue because the two cases are unconnected,” Saleh said. “Our case would be resolved if the blood money was delivered. This puts the family in a difficult situation with the family of the victim. I hope that the philanthropist will reveal her identity and order her lawyer to deliver the money to the Makkah court so we can close the case. It is not fair that the life of a man is in danger because a lawyer has decided to play the stock market.”
The death-row inmate was in low spirits when he met with Al-Madinah. He said that he wanted to know what will happen now — whether he faces execution or pardon.
Al-Madinah interviewed the lawyer who said that he won’t pay the blood money even if the case of Khamis Mushayt is resolved. He said that the Tabuk prisoner is the least he cares about. He denied telling the family that he would pay them the money, and says he doesn’t care if the man dies or not.
