TAIF: A septuagenarian Arab national has proved once again that panhandling is the easiest way to make a windfall. All he had to lose was self-respect, dignity and shame and what he gained in return was thousands of riyals.

The Anti-Begging Committee in Taif arrested the beggar, from whose possession more than SR11,000, along with large sums of foreign currency, was recovered.

He sat in front of the gate of a private hospital and took advantage of people visiting patients.

The committee referred the expat to police for further investigation.

Sources told local media that the Joint Anti-Begging Committee, which comprises several government bodies, arrested the rich alms-seeker who was in his seventies.

The cunning beggar whose area of operation was Al-Sitteen Street knew well that people tend to give alms when they are in low spirits because of health issues.

The director of the social follow-up office in Taif, Jazaa Al-Otaibi, said the Arab national would be subjected to stipulated regulations and laws.