Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The lawyer representing a schoolteacher accused of abducting and raping several young girls in Jeddah has denied reports that a court has sentenced his client to death. Wael Jawharji said the Jeddah General Court did not issue any verdict in the case and dismissed reports published in a section of the press as "baseless". “I've read in some newspapers and online sites that my client has been sentenced to death. I have no idea about such a verdict,” Jawharji said, adding that he would challenge any sentence against his client in the Court of Appeals. Informed sources said the defendant rejected all evidence submitted against him in the court and insisted that they were fabricated. At one hearing, an alleged victim said she was raped by a man with dark complexion while the accused is fair. He even told the court that this statement by the victim should absolve him of guilt and involvement in the case. The schoolteacher, who is married and has several children, was accused by the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution of kidnapping and raping his victims, mostly young girls, and forcing them to watch pornographic clips with him. He would abduct a victim, take her home and drop her off on the street after raping her. The attacks took place in 2008 and the man was arrested in late 2011.
