The victim was stabbed at his residence in Al-Kandara district of Jeddah last week. His friend was named the prime suspect when he failed to turn up at work. Investigators found him hiding in one of the residential districts of the capital city three days after he disappeared.

Police started questioning the victim’s close friends after the 40-year-old’s body was discovered. When it emerged that one of his friends had gone on the run, Jeddah police intensified their search for him. On receiving a tip-off that the man may have fled to Riyadh, they sought the help of the local police.

The arrested suspect has reportedly confessed that he had committed the murder. He told officers that he had quarreled with his friend before he took a knife and stabbed him in the chest, killing him instantly.

He added that he had escaped to Riyadh in order to return to his home country before he was caught.

Riyadh police are preparing to transfer the man back to Jeddah.

Meanwhile, police in Jeddah have arrested four people after the body of an Indonesian woman was found near a garbage container in the eastern part of the city.

One of the arrested told the police that the woman died while she was sitting in his car. He then called three of his friends for help.

One of them advised him to dump the body, while the other two said he should call the police and provide a false report. Finally they agreed to get rid of the body and escape.

Forensic reports indicate that there was no sign of violence on the body and that the woman may have died of natural causes.

The case has been transferred to the General Prosecution and Investigation Board.