Expat jailed for stealing medicines

JEDDAH, 14 May — A Shariah court in Jeddah has sentenced an expatriate worker to 18 months jail and 750 lashes for stealing medicines from the Health Ministry’s warehouse, according to Dr. Samir Lingawi, director of health in Jeddah. He said the Pakistani, an air-conditioner mechanic, entered the warehouse in the morning under the pretext of fixing a technical problem. Authorities questioned the man when they found considerable shortage in stocks. Officials later seized a large quantity of medicines from the expatriate’s possession.