JEDDAH, 23 January 2007 — Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi has agreed to extend the validity of recruitment visas to two years, according to Deputy Labor Minister Ahmed Al-Zamil. “The minister took the decision to protect the interests of the Kingdom’s economic, industrial and business sectors,” Zamil said. “We have instructed labor offices across the country to implement the new decision,” he added.
Saudi Motorist Runs Causeway Checkpoint
DAMMAM, 23 January 2007 — Police have arrested a Saudi motorist for not stopping at a checkpoint on the King Fahd Causeway while returning from Bahrain. Col. Yousuf Al-Qahtani, spokesman of the Eastern Province police, told Arab News that police were questioning the young Saudi, who was accompanied by two other young men. He said the driver had crossed all barriers that are installed on both sides of the causeway. Police had to close the main gateway at the end of the causeway to stop the man, he added. Informed sources said the man was fleeing Bahrain after causing a traffic accident.
Suspect Captured in Cable Theft Ring
BURAIDAH, 23 January 2007 — Police in Buraidah in the Qasim region arrested an Asian resident who hired other illegal residents to strip buildings of cables to sell. Police spotted and arrested one of the gang members as he was stealing cable from a construction site. Police in Qasim also arrested an Arab national who stole SR90,000 from a private food institution he worked for as cashier. The owner informed police after he noticed money missing. The employee was wiring the money to his home country bit by bit, said police. The man confessed to the crime after interrogation.
Prostitution Ring Busted in Jeddah
JEDDAH, 23 January 2007 — Acting on a tip-off, security forces arrested an Arab woman and her male accomplice for running a prostitution ring in Jeddah’s Al-Rawdah district. The girls were charging as much as SR3,000 a night, which included alcoholic beverages and drugs. Police also seized SR18,000 in cash and a number of new cell phones.
Man Stabs Wife, Mutilates Body
JIZAN, 23 January 2007 — Residents of Al-Adayea, 25 km north of Jizan, woke up to a horrific crime Sunday morning that shocked the small village. A man stabbed his 25-year-old wife (a teacher) numerous times and mutilated her body, according to a report in Al-Watan daily yesterday. A police spokesman said that the husband turned himself in to police after committing the crime. Police are still investigating the case.
Yemeni Arrested for Impersonating Saudi
JEDDAH, 23 January 2007 — Ehab Hassan, a 30-year-old Yemeni national, has been arrested on false-identity charges. He has been charged with impersonating a Saudi for over 10 years. The man was arrested as he was heading to work at a Jeddah law firm. He was in possession of three Saudi ID cards.
