On the first occasion, the lawyer is accused of depositing in his personal bank account a check for SR1.2 million that was supposed to be used in blood money to secure the release of a Saudi man who killed an official at a mental hospital in Madinah last year.
The lawyer allegedly failed to pass the money on to its beneficiary. It is also alleged that he did not give the donor a receipt for the cash.
Sources told Arab News that the lawyer has not been arrested but has been asked to visit a police station for questioning. He has also been asked to bring along with him any proof he may have to contest the charges.
The sources said the police may refer to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency to ascertain what happened to the check and determine the identity of the person who deposited it in the lawyer’s account.
Police suspect the lawyer forged the signature on the check to deposit the cash into his account. Police will seek help from specialists to see whether the signature was forged or not.
The sum had been given in an act of charity to the lawyer who was known to be trustworthy and to have been involved in charity work.
The irregularities were discovered when the businessman who donated the cash reviewed his bank statement and noticed the check had been deposited into the lawyer’s account instead of the family of the prisoner on death row. On contacting the family of the prisoner, the businessman discovered that they had not received the cash.
The lawyer denies the charge and insists he gave the cash to the family. This incident then led to the discovery of a similar case in which the same lawyer received a check of SR2 million in rent money that was to be given to the owner of a property. This check was also deposited into the lawyer’s personal account.
Head of the Lawyers Committee in Madinah, Sultan bin Zahem, said the committee was following the case. He said if the allegations prove to be true then the committee will cancel his membership. He added that if the lawyer is charged, then the Ministry of Justice will revoke his permit.
