TAIF — Two Saudi prisoners have been spared from execution after efforts made by various people succeeded in convincing the families of victims to drop the cases against the prisoners and relinquish their right to the death sentence. Mohsin Al-Maqati forgave his son's killer, Sultan Al-Maqati, while the family of Mutlaq Al-Osaimi forgave Abdullah Al-Bugami who killed his victim several years ago, and granted him pardon on condition that he must pay them blood money of SR32 million. Both pardoned prisoners could not believe that they were given a chance to start anew. Sultan could not wait until his victim's father signed the pardon document. He jumped out of his seat and kissed the old man and hugged him with joy. Sultan, who is 24 years old, could not describe his feelings after the pardon, saying he spent two bitter years behind bars. “Not a day went by without expressing deep remorse for what I did and I got myself into. In a split second, I lost self-control and committed a crime,” said Sultan. He said he learned his lesson well, hoping that he will find a good job when he gets out of prison. Just a few days before he committed the murder, Sultan was supposed to start his first day at a lucrative job. He also used to be one of the best soccer players in north Taif. Abdullah Al-Bugami, who has six children, spent four years in the prison during which he memorized many chapters from the Holy Qur'an and had become an imam who delivered Friday sermons to prisoners every week. “For the past four years, I've seen death hanging on my head night and day. Now, I'll have to come up with SR32 million toward the blood money, which I should pay before June 18 of this year.” Brig. Ahmad Al-Shehri, director of Taif Prisons, said two prisoners displayed good conduct and character and showed deep remorse for what they did. “I'm sure they'll work hard to make up for the years they spent in the prison.”
