JEDDAH: The Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh has sentenced a Syrian national to eight years in prison for his involvement in spying activities in the Kingdom in favor of the hostile Syrian regime.

The defendant was found guilty of gathering information about Syrian dissidents living in Saudi Arabia in favor of the Syrian intelligence.

He published information relating to the Syrian regime’s army and the events taking place in that country, besides sharing videos and pictures of death and violence there on Facebook and also posting offensive remarks against the Kingdom, its rulers and its people. In its verdict on Monday, the court said the eight-year sentence starts from the date he was arrested, including two years on the basis of article 6 of the Anti-Cyber Crime law.

The computer belonging to the defendant has been seized, according to article 13 of the Anti-Cyber Crime law, and the court issued and order to deport him after the end of his prison term.