JEDDAH: A summary court in Jeddah acquitted Wednesday the director of a charitable society in the city after she was charged with stealing SR4 million by the Investigation and Public Prosecution Commission.
Saleh Al-Ghamdi, the defendant’s lawyer, said he was happy over the court verdict and said it reflected the fairness and transparency of the Saudi judicial system. The prosecution said it would appeal the verdict.
A judicial source said the accusation leveled against the woman, an academic at King Abdulaziz University, was in violation of legal proceedings. Al-Ghamdi said the evidence put forward by the prosecution against his client was based on assumptions. He emphasized the right of his client to demand compensation for causing moral and material damage.
Prosecutors charge that the woman collecting SR4 million illegally from philanthropists and establishing a charitable society without license using the name of a famous philanthropist.
The prosecutor said there was no private right in the case. In other words, the case involves no other plaintiffs besides the state.
The woman, whose identity was not provided, is also involved in a private-right claim by the owner of the villa where the charity was based who claims he is owed back rent.
