Security authorities have opened an extensive investigation to prosecute the parties involved in the Aziziah ghost Haj campaign. Evidence gathered on the case so far will eventually lead the security authorities to those responsible for the campaign and the identity of the owner of the firm.

New details of the case revealed that one of the officials of the campaign is of Arab nationality. Soon after Al-Eqtisadiah published its report on Monday the man instantly rushed to give every pilgrim SR500, offered them meals and promised to provide buses to transport them to Buraidah fearing they may file complaints against his company.

A number of pilgrims confirmed their situations have changed, and that the official sent workers to clean the rented building, which used to be a private school, and they were compensated with money for the maltreatment.

They explained that the official did not appear in person fearing a confrontation with the annoyed pilgrims or arrest by security authorities.

A security source at Jeddah police said the authorities are determined to seize the perpetrators of such fake campaigns.

The source emphasized on the constant cooperation among the various security bodies and the media as a key partner in the security system to face violators. He said the media has played an important role in reducing such ghost campaigns by raising awareness among pilgrims.

A report by the newspaper disclosed the existence of 650 pilgrims without permits affiliated with a ghost campaign. They have taken shelter in a dilapidated private school in Azizia near the holy site of Mina. The ghost campaign, based in Buraidah, Qassim, did not provide the pilgrims with meals or transportation services. The victims are Arab nationals of different countries.

Each pilgrim has paid between SR 2000 — SR4000. Some clauses of the contract included commuting the pilgrims by road from Buraidah to Makkah and the holy sites, as well as providing a decent lodging, three meals a day and transportation to the holy sites and back to Buraidah.

The pilgrims showed their agreements with the company in Qassim, and official documents with the name of the firm and its manager. They pointed out that the firm operates several offices under different names. They also showed receipts of the money they paid to the company for the Haj pilgrimage.

They explained that the company had signed agreements with 650 pilgrims on 13 buses and paid a total of SR1.6 million.

They said that they discovered that the company was bogus when they reached the Sail meeqat near Taif, when the man told them to wait until the day of Arafat owing to their not having Haj permits. He also stressed that they did not need permits to enter the holy sites, a clear violation of the law.

According to the latest statistics of the Public Security, a total of 58 ghost Haj campaign offices were seized during this Haj season and all have been referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution for further regulatory procedures.