Al-Madinah newspaper reported quoting an informed source on Friday that the evidence gathered by the Control and Investigations Board and the Prosecutions and Investigations Commission against these officials points to many corrupt practices.
According to the evidence, the wife and maid of a high ranking municipal official, who is a major suspect in the illegal practices that led to the tragedy following heavy rains in Jeddah in 2009 and 2011, used to shop at Champs Élysées in Paris. Also the wife of another suspect bought three luxury villas in some of the most expensive neighborhoods in Jeddah with the ill-gotten money. The authorities did not reveal the suspects' identities.
The nexus between officials, contractors and real estate businessmen led to the impact of the flood assume catastrophic proportions.
The two investigating agencies have submitted the case sheets of four suspects to the summary court.
The accusations against two prime suspects in the case include that they facilitated the sale and registration of properties in flood basins and that they amassed wealth through bribery, forgery of documents and money laundering.
The shady activities of a suspect, a high ranking municipal officer, according to the crime sheet included taking bribes from contractors so as to allow the maintenance works for vital flood projects to be carried out in a slipshod manner.
More than 120 people were killed and many dozens were missing during the flood in Jeddah following heavy rains on Nov. 25, 2009. The second flood that wreaked havoc occurred in January this year bringing the total death toll in the two floods to 140.
Many of the victims were believed to have drowned as their cars were swept away or submerged in rising waters. More than 10,785 buildings were destroyed and 10,850 vehicles wrecked, according to official statistics. The poorer neighborhoods in the south of Jeddah were particularly hard hit. Business losses were estimated at SR1 billion.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ordered a detailed probe into the circumstances that led to the large-scale calamities. “Inflict the deterrent Islamic punishment on all those who are proven to be guilty or careless in this,” the king said in his order.
