The widow of a Saudi killed last July following a car chase by Baljurashi patrol officers and the Haia was expected this week to appear before the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecutions to file a formal criminal complaint.
Samira, the widow of Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi, 34, was summoned by the bureau to finalize her complaint. The filing is a prelude to presenting the case in court for a trial against the patrol officers and members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
The incident has raised concerns among the public over Haia members participating in car chases that lead to death or injury of individuals found to have not committed any violations. The commission has agreed to become less confrontational with the public, although a number of incidents that have led to injuries occasionally surface.
The criminal case stems from an incident in which Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi, his wife and two young children, ages 3 and 5, were leaving the Shukran recreation center at about 2:15 a.m. in July 2012. The family was playing songs on an audio cassette player in their Nissan Altima. Members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice considered the music too loud and gave chase when Al-Ghamdi refused to stop. At least two patrol cars joined in the pursuit.
The family car reached the Janoub-Baljurahi Road flyover. The car went over the flyover and crashed to the ground, killing Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi and seriously injuring Samira and the two children.
The family was airlifted to a hospital in Riyadh where surgeons amputated Samira’s hand. She was scheduled in the next few weeks to receive an artificial hand. A son, identified as Khaled, had head, eye and abdominal injuries. A daughter, who was not identified, was expected to have cosmetic surgery, according to the victim’s family members.
Dr. Khaled Al-Shahrani, Samira’s brother-in-law, later said, “The fact his car fell from the flyover to the right side shows that the two patrols had intentionally wanted to force the car off the road and this caused the vehicle to fall.”
The wife said the volume of the music in the car was high but reasonable.
Al-Shahrani said traffic patrol officers involved in the fatal car chase remain in custody, while the victim’s family say the Haia members have been released pending the trial.
The Haia has denied it was involved in the chase.
Haia, police officers face trial in fatal car chase
