According to a section of the print and electronic media, security guards in CPS headquarters found Muhammad Al-Hamad attempting to sneak into the building after dark on Friday and informed the society’s deputy chairman. Al-Hamad vehemently denied the reports. “I am now speaking to you from my office. You should know that all keys of the office and society are with me,” he told Arab News.

“Mean reports such as this do not deserve attention and as I said in the past, I adhere to the statutes of the society. I was elected the society’s chairman in a fair manner with the endorsement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.”

Al-Hamad said the only thing he had to say was that he has exercised his legal rights, as guaranteed by the society’s statutes.

He added that the society’s council members should not have behaved in a manner damaging to his reputation, particularly by resorting to cheap digs in the media.

Nasser Al-Tuwaim, deputy chairman of the society, refused to comment on the latest media reports.

“We are now waiting for developments in this matter. We are considering amendments to the statutes. In the event of the ousted chairman taking his complaint to a court of law, we will respect the court’s verdict,” Al-Tuwaim said.

He added that Al-Hamad was still their colleague and had many other skills that he could use to serve the society.

Al-Tuwaim appealed to Al-Hamad to respect the unanimous decision of the executive committee.

The society’s executive council voted to fire Al-Hamad from all his posts, including chairmanship of the executive council and the general assembly, and terminated his membership in the society on Monday.

Al-Hamad said in an earlier statement that he disputed his sacking and was waiting for the stand of the concerned authorities in the matter.