A former Jeddah mayor with the rank of minister faces additional investigation after two of his predecessors testified and narrated information about his actions related to the Jeddah flood disaster, sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. Okaz/Saudi Gazette has obtained new information about the dossier of the main suspect, a former mayor in Jeddah with the rank of minister. The investigations and legal actions are being conducted as per royal directives. The man will soon go on trial, according to the regulation for ministers and state employees in the Excellent Grade because the crimes he is accused of took place during his term as mayor, according to sources. The regulation for trial of ministers states that they are subject to it after their retirement. Two of the former Jeddah mayor?s predecessors have been investigated as witnesses to clarify some information about the suspect, who faces several charges, sources said. They are expected to be summoned to be witnesses against the accused, former mayor, the sources added. The former Jeddah mayor has said before the Appeals Judge that when he served in that post, he made a mistake by approving papers referred to him by the Jeddah Mayoralty?s undersecretary. He said he mistakenly approved construction of a concrete tunnel in the flood course in Quwaizah District and allowed citizens to build at the site. His confessions were attested by the court. The suspect also said that in his post as mayor, he should not have allowed those actions, as per two Royal Orders issued in 1984, which he said he learned about for the first time when he appeared before the investigation committee. The Royal Orders prohibited building and owning land in the flood courses and valley floors, and directed the Jeddah Mayoralty to safeguard those sites for the public interest. The former mayor said it was a shortcoming on his part to have not read the regulations and directives, but he emphasized that he based his decisions on the incorrect information he received from a colleague who intentionally misled him. He said he does know the motivation behind the undersecretary?s action. The former mayor expressed regret and his apology to the rulers, and acknowledged that he should have known about the royal orders. He stressed that the error was not made with the intention of harming any lives or property and expressed his readiness for his testimony to be attested according to the Shariah. The court judge then attested the former mayor?s confessions, in the presence of a representative from the Control and Investigation Board. __
