JEDDAH: Next August, a court in Jeddah will issue a verdict on charges against a former minister who, according to the heirs of a citizen, had seized the land belonging to their deceased father illegally.

During the earlier court sessions, the heirs accused a mosque imam of forging the signature of their father before his death to sell the land to the former minister at a price much lower than its current SR120 million asking price.

In his accusation, the son called for halt of all procedures related to the land including the suspension of financial compensations to be paid by the Ministry of Finance on the expropriated lands for the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques.

The son also demanded that the former minister should return the land to them and the sale be considered null and void and that forgery penalty be imposed on the imam of the mosque.

Meanwhile, the son of the minister (defendant) presented a detailed defense on the case and claimed that the case was “malicious” and the land purchase procedures were legal and correct. He called for the cancelation of the case based on documents and testimonials accompanying the defense statement.

Following a 40-minute deliberation, the court said a verdict on the case will be issued Aug. 20, 2015.