- MAKKAH: An Arab expatriate convicted of causing the death of 15-year-old Algerian pilgrim girl Sarah bint Wanis last Haj was sentenced to seven years in prison and 500 lashes, local Arabic dailies reported Wednesday.
Presiding judge Sheikh Saleh ibn Muhammad Al-Talib also ruled that the accused, a Yemeni, be expelled from the country after his jail term and never allowed to come to Saudi Arabia again. The verdict will be submitted to the Court of Appeals for final approval.
The judge said the girl was not sexually assaulted. Sarah had fallen to her death from the 16th floor of the hotel where she stayed with her stepfather.
The judge said the defendant was indirectly responsible for the victim’s death.
The Algerian consul in Jeddah also attended the court session and expressed happiness at the verdict.
