RIYADH: The police have arrested a bus driver who stole $36,000 from an Arab pilgrim in the holy city of Madinah.

Col. Saleh Awad Al-Jabri, who supervised the investigation, said they were able to nab the suspect within 12 hours of police receiving the report.

According to the plaintiff, he kept $31,500, SR18,500 and his mobile in a bag in his hotel room, but found it missing oh his return.

Col. Al-Jabri said he took prompt action to find the culprit on the basis of the information provided.

The police apprehended the thief while he was driving his vehicle from Madinah to Makkah.

Initially, the police official said, the driver denied having any knowledge of such a cash bag. But the police found the bag hidden inside the vehicle’s trunk. The suspect confessed to concealing the bag in the trunk.

The Asian man is a bus driver plying between Madinah and Makkah. He will be referred to judicial authorities after police formalities are completed.