RIYADH, 12 January 2008 — Acknowledging a plea for insolvency, a court in Qatif directed the police to pay the compensation of SR75,000 on behalf of an Asian expatriate to a Saudi family whose member was killed in a vehicular accident.
The accident took place in Qatif in 2005, when R.M. Wimalaratne, a Sri Lankan domestic driver, killed a Saudi citizen when his car collided with another car driven by a Saudi national. According to the police report, Wimalaratne, who hails from Anuradhapura in central Sri Lanka was responsible for 75 percent to the accident.
In giving the final verdict, Qatif Court Judge Ibrahim Al-Sayari said that Wimalaratne has to pay a sum of SR75, 000 to the next-of-kin of the deceased.
“Since the accused nor his sponsor is unable to pay the compensation, I request the police to get the compensation from the Royal Court to pay the next-of-kin through the Ministry of Finance,” the judge said. The judge also said that the accused should be repatriated only after the payment is made to the parties of the deceased.
Wimalaratne has been languishing in Qatif jail following the accident that took place in May 2005 in Qatif. A Sri Lankan Embassy official who was present at the court to look after Wimalaratne’s interests said he was happy that the case was concluded in this manner since the judge showed sympathy toward the accused over his good behavior in the prison and the financial status of his family and his sponsor.
