Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — The General Court in Riyadh registered 48 human trafficking cases during the past year. An official source at the Ministry of Justice said Saudi nationals were mainly involved in these cases. They were charged with human trafficking in 35 cases while the remaining 13 involved non-Saudi nationals. Member of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Deputy Chairman of the Arab Human Rights Committee Hadi Al-Yami said human trafficking refers to the hiring, transporting or sheltering of people with the intention to abuse them. He said the penalty differs depending on the description of the perpetrator of human trafficking and the crime committed. The penalty is stiffer if the perpetrator is a husband, one of the relatives, a guardian or if he has any other authority over the victim. In both cases, the penalty reaches imprisonment for 15 years and a fine of SR1 million. The same penalty is imposed if the crime is committed by an organized criminal group or committed against a woman, physically challenged person or a child. Meanwhile, general and penal courts in Riyadh and Eastern Province cities looked into 55 kidnapping cases during the past Hijri year, according to an official source. Both Saudi nationals and expatriate residents were implicated in the cases, the source told Alsharq Arabic daily, adding that Saudi nationals topped the list of kidnapping crimes in Riyadh. The General Court in Riyadh looked into five cases involving Saudi nationals. Expatriates were accused in two cases. Meanwhile, the Penal Court in Riyadh looked into 23 cases of kidnappings in which Saudis were accused and two cases involving expatriates. According to the source, Eastern Province courts in Al-Khobar, Al-Qatif, Al-Ahsa, Al-Khafji, Jubail and Hafr Al-Batin looked into 17 cases of kidnappings in which Saudi nationals were accused. Expatriates were accused in six cases.
