The trial is expected to begin next week at the Jeddah Summary Court.
The newspaper said it is the inclination of the Justice Ministry and the Court of Appeals to continue with open court sessions that will be attended by the media in order to ensure transparency.
“The idea behind open sessions is opening the door for people to follow the judicial procedures thus leaving no room for speculations or incorrect analysis,’ it said.
The sources told the newspaper that only cases of a personal nature would be heard in closed sessions, but this does not apply to the accused in the flood crisis that are to be tried on criminal or corruption charges. “The decision to hold open or closed sessions is made after discerning the matter before the court and then left to the discretion of the court,” the newspaper said.
It quoted a number of residents from the areas most affected by the floods as saying that they were interested to attend the court sessions if allowed.
“Many residents of Quwaiza, the district east of the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway, are anxiously awaiting the trial of those who were behind the tragedy that led to a number of children being orphaned and many women left widows,” said Ahmad Al-Zahrani, a resident.
Shabab Al-Baqami, another resident, said he was looking forward to the trial not because of mere gloating but wrongdoers must pay for their mistakes.
Hamid Al-Mitairi and Abdul Aziz Omar, residents of another affected area, said a feeling of deep satisfaction prevailed in the area after the trial announcement.
