Muhammad Talib Al-Ahmadi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Previous cases of drug smuggling and embezzlement by Islam Bakr, the Egyptian accomplice of Egyptian lawyer Ahmad Al-Jizawee, were revealed during the first session of the trial at the General Court here Wednesday. Al-Jizawee and his two accomplices – an Egyptian and a Saudi – were in the court on drug smuggling charges. Instances of smuggling and embezzlement involving the Egyptian accomplice produced before the court include smuggling of 3,034 Xanax pills via King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh eight months ago and embezzlements to the tune of SR130,000. Al-Jizawee is accused of smuggling 21,380 Xanax tablets through King Abdulaziz International Airport several months ago. During their inspection of the residence of Al-Jizawee's Egyptian accomplice in Riyadh, anti-drug officials found a limited number of Xanax pills and boxes for keeping copies of the Qur'an, similar to those carried by Al-Jizawee to hide his contraband. As the session began, the prosecutor read out charges before a three-judge bench of Sheikh Bassam Al-Junaidi, Sheikh Saleh Al-Zaidi and Sheikh Nasser Al-Sulami. The Prosecutor General demanded death penalty for Al-Jizawee, according to Article 37 of the Drug and Psychotropics Combat Regulations. The Prosecutor General leveled charges of smuggling against Al-Jizawee. Charges of involvement in smuggling, incitement, and agreeing with others to smuggle were leveled against Islam Bakr. The Saudi accomplice of Al-Jizawee was charged with providing assistance in smuggling operations and incitement. The trial will now resume on Sept. 5.
