Saudi Governor gets fined for jailing a 100 yr old man
MADINA – The Administrative Court here on Tuesday fined Ghalib Saud Al-Muhammedi, Governor of Khaibar, SR14,000 for imprisoning a 100-year-old man for 14 days – SR1,000 per day – over a disputed well in the area.
Khaibar lies 150 km northwest of Madina.
The governor offered “no comment” after the verdict but Khunaifr Al-Asta, the aging defendant, celebrated his victory in no uncertain terms. “It is a double justice,” he said. “Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Madina Region, directed the governor to release me even before the court’s verdict and now the court has fined him SR14,000, a SR1,000 for every day I was made to spend in prison,” he said.
Khunaifr fenced an ancient well in the area claiming he inherited it from his grandfather. But the governor ordered him to remove the fence as it was considered an endowment. Khunaifr did not budge and the governor ordered him imprisoned. The aggrieved old man approached Prince Abdul Aziz who ordered his release. After getting out of the jail, Khunaifr filed a lawsuit against the governor.
The defendant’s lawyer said the verdict proves that the Kingdom adheres to the principles of human rights in letter and spirit and protects people’s dignity.
“The verdict also proves that no one is considered above the law,” he said.