NIARIA, 24 September 2004 — Authorities are hunting for an Arab who fled after it was discovered that he was suffering from AIDS, Okaz newspaper reported.
Two weeks ago, local police authorities were notified that the man was suspected of having AIDS.
Blood samples were taken from him and tested at Dammam’s Central Hospital where it was confirmed that he had AIDS, Okaz reported. At that point police wanted the man to be deported in his sponsor’s presence. But the man managed to vanish from the scene and no longer showed for work at the car shop.
According to a source the man knew he had AIDS before coming to work in the Kingdom three years ago. But he had changed his name to that of the person who went in for the pre-arrival mandatory blood test on his behalf.
A Pakistani national, who works in a neighboring car shop said that he used to lunch with the Arab and that someone once called asking for the missing man by another name.
The missing man has two brothers. One of them was deported due to conflicts with his sponsor while the other is on vacation outside the Kingdom.
