Abdulrahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Summary Court in Jeddah has sentenced a Saudi man found guilty of drunk driving to flogging. The Saudi is known for his “liberal” views. His father had filed a disobedience lawsuit against him and the authorities were looking into the case. He was also summoned to the court to stand trial on charges of blasphemy. However, he did not attend the hearings after repeated summons. Finally the court ordered the security authorities to arrest him and coerce him to attend the trial. The Criminal Investigations Department collected information on his whereabouts and apprehended him. He was spotted in a state of intoxication and resisted arrest. The security officers overpowered him and handed him over to the authorities concerned. Empty bottles of liquor were found in his possession at the time of arrest. The bottles were taken to the forensic laboratory for analysis and its report confirmed alcohol content in the bottles. The man then admitted to charges of drunk driving. Based on his confessions and the laboratory report, the presiding judge, Abdulmajeed Al-Lehaidan, sentenced him to 150 lashes.