Okaz/Saudi Gazette DAMMAM — Police arrested a number of suspects after a video showing a group of young men vandalizing a private lounge in Al-Ahsa governorate went viral on social media. Eastern Province Police spokesman Col. Ziyad Al-Raqiti said the incident took place in Al-Bataliyah city in Al-Ahsa governorate. "The video sparked an uproar on social media and was brought into our attention. However, the owner of the lounge has not yet made a formal complaint. Police registered a case in public interest and spoke to the owner of the lounge. The owner said he had rented the lounge and its swimming pool to a young man whom he does not personally know," said Al-Raqiti. He said police identified and tracked down some of the vandals. "We arrested some of them but are still searching for the rest. The video has started spreading multiple rumors about the incident. What police have publicly stated is the accurate information available so far," said Al-Raqiti. National Society for Human Rights Secretary-General Khalid Al-Fakhry, a legal consultant, said vandalism is a crime punishable by law. "If the investigations revealed that the act was armed attempt and resulted in thefts, then it is a bigger crime. The owner of the lounge can claim his private rights in regard to the incident. The video alone is sufficient proof for a number of crimes including the breach of information privacy law because the act was filmed, stealing properties of the lounge and assaulting a young man by beating him up and locking him up," said Al-Fakhry. He added the punishment for such an act is left to the discretion of the judge, who has the full freedom to hand out the harshest penalty. Lawyer Humoud Al-Khaldi said the vandals must be punished and the owner of the lounge must be compensated. "The incident has violated public and private rights. The video documented a crime that the police had to be involved in, which means it is a violation of public right. The owner of the lounge has the right to demand to be compensated for the financial losses he endured," said Al-Khaldi.
