TAIF, 21 February — Police at the Sail checkpoint in Taif sent back more than 200 expatriate pilgrims from Riyadh on Tuesday for carrying forged Haj permits issued by a domestic Haj agent. The angry pilgrims surrounded the agent’s office in downtown Riyadh demanding compensation and reimbursement of their money. But the agent had already fled. Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Al-Sajeeni, director of the Passports Department, expressed sorrow over the circumstances that led to turning back the pilgrims. He said he had ordered a probe into the incident.
Meanwhile, Brig. Fahd Al-Khareesi, director of passports in the Madinah, denied reports that some 150 vehicles illegally transporting pilgrims had been turned back from a checkpoint in the region.
