RIYADH, 22 July 2007 — Riyadh authorities have arrested a suspect in the murder of a Saudi woman who was found dead in her burning house in the capital’s Qurtuba district.
The suspect is the victim’s Bangladeshi driver, who police say set fire to his sponsor’s house knowing she was sleeping inside.
“This was a criminal act,” said Riyadh Police spokesman Maj. Sami Al-Shuwarikh. “Investigations have shown that the driver set the house on fire. He is currently in police custody.”
The victim was identified as Hessah Al-Madi, a Saudi British Bank manager, who was found dead two weeks ago by rescue workers responding to a call about a house fire. The woman reportedly died from smoke inhalation.
Al-Shuwarikh said that investigations are ongoing and police don’t know if the woman has been abused physically or sexually prior to her death. Motives for the alleged murder are still unknown. Police have interviewed the suspect’s two brothers and several employees at SABB.
According to neighbors, Al-Madi was a divorced mother of two surviving sons, 22 and 14, was well off and owned several properties in the capital.
In another incident, Riyadh authorities announced yesterday the arrest of an Asian national for murdering another Asian expat over a financial dispute. The killing took place in Al-Aziziya district. “The assailant confessed to killing his colleague over a money dispute,” the statement said.
