RIYADH: At least 2,000 beggars, including women and children, were arrested in the Eastern Province, 80 percent of whom were found to be foreigners, according to Col. Ziad Al-Raqiti, police spokesman.
“The largest percentage of those arrested were women (54 percent), followed by children (29 percent) and men (17 percent),” Al-Raqiti said.
He said the arrests were carried out after field surveys to monitor the time and place of the beggars’ operations, with the participation of representatives from the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
“Aside from pursuing follow-up cases, police also visited road intersections, mosques and markets in various parts of the region to look for the beggars,” he said.
He said that police were also seeking the cooperation of citizens and residents regarding the places where the beggars can be found. He added that aside from apprehending beggars, the police are also involved in other cases in the region, such as the case involving a video that went viral.
“The video involved three young men riding motorcycles with only a helmet and underwear. It was a cause for public scandal,” he said.
He said the police were able to identify the young men within hours of the circulation of the video through public cooperation.
“They were arrested and scheduled to go on trial in a few days. All three were Saudis in their 30s. They were violating the national dress code which is based on Islamic law,” he said.
He added that police were also involved in the case of a Saudi teenager who jumped out of a moving taxi in Dammam to avoid harassment by its Asian driver.
“The girl emerged unhurt after opening the door and jumping out of the moving taxi on a busy road,” he said.
EP beggars hauled up in hundreds
EP beggars hauled up in hundreds
