JEDDAH, 12 February 2003 — Security officers in Makkah have arrested a 10-member armed gang that robbed the accountant of a private company in Bahra of SR350,000, Al-Madinah reported yesterday.
The gang robbed the man after firing at him on Nov. 24 last year. The paper said the man was on his way to a bank to deposit the money when he was attacked.
Police confiscated nine guns, 145 caches of live ammunition, 4,894 narcotic Captagon tablets and hundreds of cartons of alcoholic drinks from the gangsters who were staying at Bahrat Al-Mujahedeen and Bahrat Al-Amoudi.
When police raided the main suspects’ house, they found nine guns, the ammunition, other weapons as well as SR59,700 in cash, the paper said.
No security personnel was injured in the exchange of fire between police and the gangsters, but one of the gang members died on the spot.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the gang members were involved in an armed robbery at a bank in Jamjoum a year ago.
The raid was carried out by a special security force. Brig. Mohammed Al-Harithy, director of police in Makkah, commended the efforts of his officers who had earlier held two gangs comprising expatriates.
Meanwhile, a muaddin (caller for prayer) at a mosque in Bahra died of bullet wounds after an unidentified gunman shot him while he was going from the mosque after Subah prayers on Monday. Okaz newspaper identified the muaddin as Hasan Salim Al-Bakry, 55.
He is survived by four sons and four daughters. Fahd Al-Bakry, the son of Hasan, said his father was shot in the back of his head.
Farm worker dies in fire: A Saudi employer found one of his Egyptian workers dead on Sunday following a fire in the worker's room. The fire started early in the morning, and the cause of death was given as smoke inhalation.
