JEDDAH – A former Jeddah mayor admitted before the Board of Grievances Sunday the existence of a real estate investment scheme involving a businessman in the Umm Al-Khair planned district. He however blamed another party for issuing title deeds without the approval of the mayoralty despite studies that confirmed building in the planned district could be hazardous. The trial related to Jeddah flood disasters at the Board of Grievances witnessed a heated confrontation between the former mayor and his deputy for technical affairs and two businessmen following accusations that they were involved in approving construction in Umm Al-Khair planned district. The two former officials were also charged with bribery, forgery and abuse of power. The defendants denied charges of accepting bribes and covering up violations of regulations relating to construction in the area. The charges leveled by the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) against the former mayor included receiving a plot of land in Al-Khumrah area in return for approving construction on encroached public land. He was also accused of receiving SR1 million in bribe for the favor. The former mayor said the Umm Al-Khair planned district was approved by the mayor who succeeded him in 1409AH. He claimed that the plot of land in Al-Khumrah was co-owned by his brother and a businessman. He said the allegation against him was made by the third defendant because of family problems between them that go back to 20 years.
