JEDDAH: A Saudi man was beheaded in Madinah on Monday for raping and robbing four women after offering to give them a ride in his pickup truck.

Salah ibn Rihaidan ibn Hailan Al-Johani lured the women into his pickup while posing as a taxi driver on four different occasions. He would then take the women to remote areas where he would abandon them after raping and robbing them, said the Ministry of Interior in a statement.

The statement said Al-Johani was married and had a criminal record, adding that he was arrested following investigations and that a judge sentenced him to death for his crimes. Both the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Court upheld the verdict and a royal order was issued to carry out the death sentence.

Al-Johani had a pickup truck that he used as a taxi to pick up passengers, a practice that is not uncommon in the city especially during the pilgrim seasons.

The Ministry of Interior said that whenever a woman would get into his vehicle, Al-Johani would drive quickly outside the city, strip his victims naked, and then rape and rob them. The ministry added that he would also remove his truck’s number plates to make it difficult for the police to trace him.

The sex attacks were uncovered after an attempted rape — commonly referred to as the “Aziziyah girl case” — in 2005. The Aziziyah girl, a 19-year-old secondary school student, was with her sister-in-law heading for her uncle’s home at around 10 p.m. when they got into Al-Johani’s pickup.

As they came close to the uncle’s home, Al-Johani began driving around in circles, saying he was unsure of the location and then drove off at high speed. The two women became suspicious and the Aziziyah Girl threatened to throw herself out of the car if he did not stop.

Al-Johani ignored their demands, and the 19-year-old threw herself out of the car. She died immediately from her injuries. Al-Johani then threw out the other woman who sustained serious injuries.

The beheading sent a wave of relief across Madinah, especially among women who had become wary of using taxis, especially at night.