Riyadh General Court has postponed its latest session involving a SR400-million fraud case because the main suspect failed to turn up.

The accused had also not attended several earlier court hearings, according to a report in local media recently. The man had allegedly defrauded 6,000 citizens, with over 500 having launched legal action to recover their money.

Earlier the accused said in a letter to each investor that he can pay the money back once a special committee is set up to oversee the payments. Investors have also called on the Riyadh governorate to set up a committee.

The accused has asked the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution to form a committee that would oversee the payments. He also said that he would hire accountancy firms to review all contracts and entitlements.

He said that he cannot pay anyone because the Ministry of Commerce and Industry cut off all services to him three months ago. Other government bodies have done the same.

The Riyadh General Court has ordered several complainants to refer the cases to Riyadh police first before launching legal action.