The Administrative Court has started the trial of three Jeddah Passport Department officials charged with issuing illegal residency cards for members of an Arab family who entered the country on Umrah visas.

According to the list of charges presented by the Control and Investigation Board, the first defendant is accused of responding to a plea by a colleague to prepare illegal documents in favor of the foreigner, pending the issue of a legal residency permit. This was followed by the addition of his wife and children to the same residency document. The first and second defendant are accused of similar charges. The court ruled that the first defendant be dismissed from duty. An initial ruling acquitted the second defendant, but was rebutted by the Appeal Court.

The first defendant said during the trial that he accepted the mediation of the second and third defendants. He said he responded to their pleas to prepare formal documents pending the issue of an illegal residency card for an expatriate who is working illegally in the country.