MAKKAH, 12 June 2007 — Authorities in Makkah have increased the penalty for expatriates who harbor illegal residents to a SR10,000 fine, two months in jail and deportation. It was not clear if the increased penalty applies only to the Makkah region.
Col. Shuail ibn Bekhit Al-Matrafi, an official of the Passport Department of Makkah, said the move is aimed at cracking down on expatriates that bring relatives and harbor them either by extending their visit visas or letting the visas expire, turning the visa holder into an illegal resident of the Kingdom.
Al-Matrafi added that the new fingerprint system used by the Passport Department has succeeded in revealing a large number of illegal residents. He urged those who want to host their relatives for a visit to abide by the law.
