JEDDAH – Seven Egyptians who were arrested two months ago in Taif for assaulting police officers, said that they had thought the officers were thieves, not undercover police officers. Their lawyer, Ahmad Al-Rashid, claimed that because the officers were undercover, the men did not know they were assaulting policemen. “These men have been in police custody for 40 days, with no fixed court appointment. They should be released, and if the court fears their escape, their names should be put on a travel ban list,” added Al-Rashid. The undercover officers were attacked when they tried to intervene in a fight that broke out between two of the men. A complaint was lodged at the police station in the neighborhood which led to the officers being dispatched to the apartment to find out who had instigated the fight. The officers were told that the man in question was not there and were promptly attacked by the men, who also dragged a uniformed officer inside the apartment where he was beaten up. One of the men used an iron rod in the assault. The police officers sustained various injuries ranging from contusions to bruises. Al-Rashid claimed that there had been no explanation for why the police officers had been dispatched to the apartment in plain clothes. Moreover, while assault charges were made, there have been no specific charges made against any one of the defendants. The court adjourned the case to Sept. 10, pending evidence from the Prosecutor General.
