JEDDAH: Ali, a Yemeni boy aged 15, has been in detention at a juvenile care home in Jeddah for 18 months while he waits for his family to raise SR120,000 or have an eye gouged.
Ali damaged the eye of another boy during a brawl involving a number of schoolboys in Jeddah’s Al-Qurayat district — one of the underdeveloped residential areas of the city.
As a result, he was ordered to pay SR300,000 to his victim or have one of his eyes gouged. His family has so far only been able to collect SR180,000.
“My mother has collected SR180,000. I am waiting for them to collect the rest. I am hoping someone could come and help me with the cash,” said Ali.
Ali, whose mother is divorced, has six siblings. The family lives in Al-Qurayat district, which is home to mainly poor foreigners.
Ali’s eldest brother, Adnan, said the family was living on money he and another brother earn by doing odd jobs.
He said he has sought to negotiate with the victim’s father, but he has refused to waive off the remaining cash.
“We hope a philanthropist would come to our rescue. My brother’s release depends on that,” he said.
Adnan said Ali has spent six months in detention. He was temporarily released to sit an exam but is now back in the juvenile home.
“My poor mother is knocking on doors to collect the remaining balance,” Adnan added.
