Published: Feb 4, 2012 02:38 Updated: Feb 4, 2012 02:38

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article570818.ece

JEDDAH: Agencies probing the Jeddah flood disaster have filed fresh charges against some suspects, accusing them of being involved in money laundering.

The general court in Jeddah would start proceedings for their trial in the coming days, Al-Madinah local daily reported Friday, quoting well-informed sources.

Those accused in money laundering included some former senior officials of Jeddah municipality. These officials are currently facing trial at the Court of Grievances for their alleged involvement in some other charges such as accepting bribes of over SR5 million, misuse of power and involvement in illegal trade.

According to sources, the suspects would get jail terms ranging between 10 and 15 years and fines of up to SR7 million if convicted. Moreover, the money involved in laundering would also be recovered.

There are a total of 332 suspects who have already been charged with various crimes linked to the flood disaster that turned into catastrophe in Jeddah on Nov. 25, 2009. These suspects included six senior officials of Jeddah municipality including an assistant mayor, as well as several officials in the government and private sectors in addition to consultants, engineers, technicians, contractors and businessmen.

Jeddah’s summary court is looking into a number of criminal cases framed against the suspects while the administrative court is examining several cases pertaining to administrative and financial violations. A number of suspects have already confessed to committing various administrative and financial violations.

On Tuesday, the administrative court postponed its verdict against four suspects — a Saudi and three foreigners — after they retracted their previous confessions. During the court session, one of the defendants admitted to having received SR60 million from another suspect. He claimed this was not a bribe but instead commission for providing data about a piece of land, which was later sold at SR600 million.

The probing teams, comprising of professional and experienced investigators from the Investigation Department, Prosecution and Investigation Commission, and the Control and Investigation Board, had a Herculean task in carrying out a thorough probe into various causes that led to turning the flood disaster into a catastrophe, killing more than 100 people and destroying or damaging thousands of vehicles and houses. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ordered an immediate payment of SR1 million to the family of each person who died in the flood. The king also ordered the setting up of a high-level committee, headed by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal to study the causes of the disaster and recommend ways to ensure that it does not happen again.