MAKKAH, 26 December 2007 — Police in Makkah recently arrested two unqualified overstayers working as dentists in a back street market. The two men, who are of an Arab nationality, were spotted by secret police in Hosh Bakar, Makkah’s notorious overstayer hub.
After monitoring the men’s movements, police arrested them from a small house in the area. The men were found to have in their possession old unhygienic dentistry tools and false teeth. Police also found SR7,000 in cash with.
The two men are being held at Al-Mansour police station pending further investigation.
Arab News were able to talk to one of the men, Sultan Aref, 25, at the police station.
“I came to the Kingdom on an Umrah visa and decided to overstay. Back in my home country I studied dentistry but didn’t complete my education and found a job as a salesman,” said Aref, adding that he came to the Kingdom because of his poor financial situation.
Aref said he chose to operate from Hosh Bakr because the neighbourhood was full of overstayers and therefore it was easy to hide from the authorities. He said he had bought most of his tools and equipment from close-by pharmacies, which did not ask for official authorization.
Police said Aref’s 24-year-old assistant, who is also an overstayer, would carry out the main work.
The men would charge nominal fees for providing their services to overstayers, who have no legal status in the Kingdom and therefore have no medical insurance.
Abdul Muhsin Al-Mayman, official spokesman for the Makkah police, told Arab News that the crackdown on overstayers would continue. He however warned the public against dealing with unauthorized medical practitioners.
“We advise citizens to stay away from fake doctors and dentists, who have no licenses to practice. People are putting their lives at risk by consulting such charlatans,” Al-Mayman said.
