The Haia provided a copy of a letter signed by various students claiming the young Saudi official had been trying to give his number to them. The letter also urged officials to intervene.

The case has received much publicity after a local newspaper published a photo of the surveyor in handcuffs after officers had arrested him. Local human rights organizations criticized the Haia’s behavior and said the situation could have been handled in a better manner.

The Haia's statement, undersigned by assistant spokesman Khaled bin Saleh Al-Hamoud, said the young man was warned three times before but he would not comply.

"When we received the letter from the students, we immediately rushed to the school. When the young man saw us, he tried to escape and hid himself under his car where he started making telephone calls. He resisted the officers, causing them injuries that needed five days' treatment. He was also injured," the spokesman said.

He said the young man was handed over to the police.

Al-Hamoud said the president of the commission has formed an independent committee to investigate the case and report its findings to him immediately.

According to some human activists, the young man’s father was also detained by police for some time but was later released. They criticized the Haia and claimed the father was simply trying to provide medical help to his son.