JEDDAH, 16 February 2007 — Immigration officials said a couple from Sri Lanka attempted to flee the country with SR250,000 stolen from their employer by turning themselves into the Passport Department as illegal residents in hopes of being deported with their bounty, the daily Al-Watan reported yesterday. The man, who was working as a chauffeur, and his wife allegedly stole SR8,000 worth of jewelry as well as the money from their employer in Makkah. The couple then turned themselves in claiming to be pilgrims overstaying their visas. However, the employer had reported the theft and officials circulated a flier to passport authorities, who recognized the couple and transferred them to police for questioning. “We investigate anyone who turns themselves in to the deportation office, checking bulletins and crime reports,” said Col. Hussain Yehia Al-Harithy, a Passport Department official. In another case, an Indian driver stole SR18,000 from his employer and attempted to flee the country in a similar fashion, but was arrested by immigration officials.
Speed Dealer Flees at High Speed, Crashes
NAJRAN, 16 February 2007 — Anti-drug police in this southern border city arrested a 35-year-old on suspicion of dealing in illegal stimulants after a high-speed chase ended with a collision that injured both the suspect and another person, local media reported yesterday. After police moved in on the suspected speed dealer during a sting operation, the man managed to flee in his vehicle. A high-speed pursuit ensued. Police shot out one of the suspect’s tires in an attempt to stop him, but he continued on three tires into oncoming traffic until he collided with a car. The driver of the car was treated for minor lesions. The suspect has a severely wounded leg. Police found large quantities of speed pills in the suspect’s vehicle.
Mentally Ill Brother Fatally Stabs Sister
MAKKAH, 16 February 2007 — A man deemed mentally ill has been arrested for assaulting his three sisters who were left in the house alone with him, according to press reports yesterday. Police say the suspect pursued his sisters in the house with a knife and fatally stabbed one of them. The other two sisters managed to flee the house to safety. The family had been dealing with the recent death of the father, police said. A police spokesman told reporters that the suspect was suffering from mental illness.
Jeddah Police Bust Theft Gang
JEDDAH, 16 February 2007 — Police have arrested seven Yemeni men who were suspected to be members of a gang that was robbing stores in Jeddah, a newspaper reported yesterday. It said all the suspects were undocumented migrants. They were using stolen cars to travel around Jeddah’s southern districts breaking into closed commercial establishments and robbing them. The authorities said the men confessed to eight thefts, including three done in one night. Police instigated a surveillance operation in one area after receiving an inordinate number of complaints from the district of the same type of crime.
Man Kills in Market, Waits for Cops
DAMMAM, 16 February 2007 — A 26-year-old resident is in custody for fatally stabbing a 50-year-old man in the central market here, the daily Al-Watan reported yesterday. According to the police, the suspect then stayed next to the body of the victim and waited to the be detained by cops without resistance. “They had a ruthless fight before one of them was killed,” said Col. Yousuf ibn Ahmed Al-Qahtani of the Dammam police. He said the suspect had a nervous breakdown when police arrived. The victim’s body was bruised, indicating that he fought back from the knife attack. An investigation is ongoing.
