RIYADH, 2 January 2006 — The case of a Filipino worker who was found dead almost two years ago in the Eastern Region has been declared closed after the accused agreed to pay blood money to the victim’s family, according to the Philippine Embassy.
In a year-end report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla said the accused agreed to pay the amount of SR100,000 to the family of Jerry Saldivia during a hearing on Christmas Day in Hofuf.
The report said Judge Sheikh Mohammad bin Fahd Al-Hoimil of the Al-Hassa Grand Court, presiding during the hearing, asked the accused, Musa bin Ais Salih Al-Humaid, whether he was willing to pay the amount demanded by the heirs of the victim.
“When he replied in the affirmative, his father came forward and handed the check to the judge who then declared the case closed...” it said.
Saldivia’s family earlier refused the offer of SR50,000 in compensation for the death of the worker, whose body was found days after he went missing in April 2004.
Citing court records, the report said the accused fetched Saldivia from the store where he was working on the night of April 8.
“For some days, Jerry’s whereabouts were unknown until witnesses pointed to the accused. He was found on April 16 and immediately admitted in the hospital. Two days later, he was declared dead.
“The police filed the case against the suspect who claimed that he and Jerry had a fight in the third floor of an abandoned building where the former took the victim. He claimed that in the course of their struggle, Jerry fell to his death,” the report said.
It said the court relied on the medical report which stated that the victim was apparently struck with a blunt object to the head as he suffered severe head injury which fractured the base of his skull.
Embassy representatives Reynold Banda and Jamil Harris, who were present during the hearing, received a copy of the check for SR 100,000.
A press statement from the embassy on Saturday said Ambassador Guinomla has transmitted a copy of the check to Manila along with the embassy’s report for the information of the family of Saldivia.
“According to records, the late Saldivia was the eldest in a family of six children. He hailed from Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City,” said the statement.
