MAKKAH, 19 June 2007 — An expatriate doctor in Jeddah is appealing a SR500,000 fine after he was found guilty of medical negligence that left a patient in coma. A case was brought against the doctor by the patient’s son, who said his father was administered a high dosage of anesthetics, which left him in a coma. A medical team was formed by the Health Ministry to investigate the case, which was finally transferred to a general court. The court found the doctor guilty and fined him SR500,000 and imposed an injunction on him preventing him from traveling abroad until the fine is paid. The doctor, who works at a government hospital in Makkah, is currently appealing the fine and calling for a new investigation.

Egyptian Murderer Pardoned

MAKKAH, 19 June 2007 — An Egyptian man, who has been on death row for 13 years for the murder of a fellow Egyptian, has been released from prison after the family of the murdered man forgave him. The Egyptian man, known by his surname Al-Bastawisy, killed fellow Egyptian Said Khairuddin following an argument at an apartment here that the two men shared. Al-Bastawisy’s family had previously tried to persuade Khairuddin’s family to accept blood money to no avail. Recently, Al-Bastawisy’s family contacted the Reconciliation Committee in Makkah to intervene. The committee team, headed by Saeed Al-Zahrani, visited Khairuddin’s family in Kafr Al-Sheikh, Egypt, and persuaded them to forgive Al-Bastawisy.

Cyclone Gonu Affects Fish Prices

MAKKAH, 19 June 2007 — Fish prices have doubled in Makkah as a direct result of Cyclone Gonu that hit Oman last week. The price of Hammour has doubled from SR35 per kilo to SR69, while Najil is priced at SR60. Muhammad Al-Nafisa, a fishmonger in Makkah, said, “The price of fish has increased because the demand is greater than the amount of fish that is being supplied. We import fish from the UAE and Oman. Since the cyclone supplies from there have slowed down.” He added, “Further to this, the authorities banned fishing in the waters off the coast of the Eastern Province fearing the safety of fishermen.”