Those accused are currently being investigated by the Control and Investigation Board and the Prosecution and Investigation Commission. They will be brought to court once investigations draw to a close.
“We will demand our private rights from the suspects and sue them for civil damages when they are officially convicted,” said one of the family members.
A total of 55 government officials, businessmen and contractors are being investigated for their role in the floods that killed many people and damaged thousands of cars and homes in Jeddah. Those being investigated are accused of negligence in overseeing the proper implementation of projects designed to protect the city against rains and floods.
“The families have every right to sue suspects after they are convicted in court,” said Khaled Abu Rashid, a lawyer and legal consultant. He added that once the investigations are over, the suspects will be brought before Shariah courts which will issue rulings according to Islamic law.
Abu Rashid said lawsuits for civil damages depend on whether the accused are convicted and the verdicts issued by judges. “Only then will they be sued for public rights,” he said.
According to Saudi law, the suspects will have a month to appeal the verdicts from the date they are formally informed abut the ruling.
According to informed sources, a number of suspects have retracted the confessions that they made before the investigation committees that were set up after the November 2009 floods.
The suspects were questioned again during the last few weeks. Sources also said a number of officials are being questioned for their role in this year’s flood crisis.
The investigations focus on the causes for the collapse of Um Al-Khair dam, the leakage of water from Al-Samir dam and the submerging of Al-Tawfiq and Al-Rabie districts, despite the drainage system that was implemented a few months ago.
