Wreckage of the car after it fell off of a bridge in Al-Baha. — Okaz photoAL-BAHA – Khalid, the 9-year-old boy whose father died and whose pregnant mother was severely injured following a car chase by members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Hai'a) is in a coma in the Intensive Care Unit, said Dr. Gharamallah Sadran, executive director of King Fahd Hospital in Al-Baha. Khalid sustained contusions to his face, eyes, and head. He added that there was no brain hemorrhage, and that “All Khalid needs now is conventional treatment with no surgical intervention. His health is getting better." Khalid's mother, Samirah Al-Ghamdi, is still in the hospital. Doctors said that some of the tissues in her hand are badly damaged and this may necessitate an amputation. She was supposed to be operated on Thursday, however, none of her relatives showed up to sign the approval form. “Samirah's hand muscles are in good condition and the blood supply is reassuring. We're waiting for replies from the hospitals we wrote to regarding Samirah's referral," said Sadran. Samirah's brothers have requested that she be transferred to the National Guard Hospital in Jeddah. Lt. Col. Saad Tarad, spokesman for Al-Baha police, denied reports that police officers who were chasing Al-Ghamdi's car, opened fire on the vehicle. “Nothing like this happened. The police officers and Hai'a members involved in the chase violated the regulations and instructions when they engaged the car in a chase." The family of four was picnicking last Friday when they were approached by a Hai'a member who complained about their car stereo playing loudly. The Hai'a member and a commission vehicle then chased their car until it fell off a bridge. Subsequently, Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Ghamdi was killed and his pregnant wife and two children were injured. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Hatlani, chief of Al-Baha police, said that Al-Baha Emirate is still looking into the case. He said nothing has been decided regarding the conviction of the police officers involved in the case. “This is a sensitive case and if convicted, the Hai'a members will have to pay blood money to the family as they had no intention to cause harm to Al-Ghamdi or his family," said Hassan Al-Rabea'ee, the former director of the Hai'a branch in Al-Baha. Relatives of the deceased said they were sure justice would prevail and that the guilty would be punished. They expressed their gratitude to Prince Mishari Bin Saud, Emir of Al-Baha region, who assured them that those responsible will not go unpunished. According to lawyer Mesfer Sultan, if it is proved that the police officers and Hai'a members involved in the car had criminal intent, they will be referred to the Shariah Court. But if investigations show that they only violated regulations and did not have any criminal intention, they will be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution. — SG
