JEDDAH, 23 October 2004 — Former Saudi international who had also represented Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal, Abdullah Sulaiman, is currently in jail for failure to pay his debts. He got embroiled in this problem after standing guarantee to a friend who took out a bank loan over millions and defaulted.
As guarantor Sulaiman was jailed when his friend failed to meet his financial obligations. Abdullah Sulaiman said: “I was jailed because I was the one who stood guarantee for my friend’s loan. When the bank pressed me to pay up after my friend failed to pay his dues, I too couldn’t pay. Police were sent and I was arrested and jailed. When I presented my case, with my friend present, the judge ruled that as a guarantor it was my obligation to pay.”
The total amount that Sulaiman needs to pay is SR2.2 million. He has been in jail for six months now. He said, “Most of my friends have abandoned me. In addition as it was the summer holidays, many were not available. But I have some reason to hope now. Recently, I received a phone call from Mansour Al-Badr, Al-Hilal club manager, who told me that they had opened a bank account under my name and that many people are donating money into this account.”
Sulaiman feels neglected after serving the national football team in World Cup 1994, 1998 and 2002. He said: “I am not asking for money from my friends. A simple phone call of support from them would be fine. When you feel that someone is concerned about you, especially when you are in a prison, it helps.”
“I have received a check of SR50,000 from Prince Khaled ibn Abdullah, president of Al-Ahli club, and I thank him for that. Hilal player Sami Al-Jaber has donated a full month’s salary to my account and I thank him too. I thank all who have rallied to my support and hope that this nightmare of mine would end soon.”
