RIYADH, 23 January 2008 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday ordered the payment of SR300,000 each as compensation to Saudi and Turkish parents, whose newborn babies were mistakenly swapped at a government hospital in Najran four years ago.
Najran Governor Prince Mishaal handed over the checks to Mohammed ibn Salim Al-Munjim, the Saudi father, and his Turkish counterpart, Yusuf Cucu, after calling them to his office yesterday.
The governor thanked the king for his humanitarian gesture, adding that it would reduce the suffering of the two families. “We are proud of our leadership that takes care of its citizens as well as residents,” the prince said. Both Munjim and Cucu expressed their gratitude to the king for the kind gesture. “King Abdullah, by showing this gesture, has proven to everyone in the country that he cares for all — citizens and residents alike,” said Cucu.
“When the governor of Najran summoned us both I was in tears,” Cucu told Arab News. “The check, which was delivered to me, was not as important as how King Abdullah supported our case and showed us how much he cared.”
Kateb Al-Shammari, the lawyer representing Cucu, said, “This is not a strange thing for King Abdullah. The king has repeatedly shown us how merciful he is and how he cares for the suffering of people.”
