The ministry, however, pointed out that the council had appointed an investigator to find out the facts. It warned the media against making reports before investigations are completed. “This is a violation of the Press and Publication Law,” the ministry pointed out.
Meanwhile, security authorities continued investigations of the judge for allegedly accepting SR200 million in bribes through a mediator — who has fled the Kingdom — for issuing land ownership deeds.
Press reports alleged that 16 court, municipality and Ministry of Agriculture employees were involved in the scam, and that Interpol had been contacted for help in bringing some of the accused back to the Kingdom. They said preliminary investigation results showed that the huge amount was transferred to the judge’s account in installments at different times.
Informed sources said the mediator who paid the amount had escaped to Turkey in the middle of Ramadan (end of August) after security officers raided the judge’s office in Madinah to get evidence related to the scam and arrest officials involved in it.
The sources also indicated that police had arrested a number of individuals involved in the scam. The bribe was allegedly paid to the judge for getting ownership of public housing villas east of Madinah.
People involved in the scam took the move when the state decided to give these villas to citizens who had applied for Real Estate Fund loans. They have allegedly got real estate ownership deeds in a number of districts and they tried to sell these properties for prices reaching SR400,000.
They are also accused of occupying plots of land east of Madinah using forged deeds with the support of some judges in the city.
