An administrative court has jailed two heads of municipalities in Qassim and the head of a major department at the secretariat of the region for abuse of power.

A local newspaper said the first head of municipality was sentenced to nine years in jail. The other two officials got three months each. The three were acquitted of these charges earlier, but the Court of Appeal overturned the verdict.

A lawyer, who did not want to be identified, said the verdict is not final and can be appealed. “However, verdicts of the administrative court are mostly endorsed and accredited because of its strength and power.”