Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — A Saudi convicted murdered imprisoned for the last 22 years was spared the sword after the victim's family accepted SR19.5 million in blood money. A penal court here ordered Muhammad Ali Al-Qahs be released after the blood money was paid to the next of kin of the victim Saeed Saad Al-Salem, according to a report in Makkah newspaper. Al-Qahs was found guilty of murdering Al-Salem and sentenced to death when he was just 15. However, his execution got delayed to let Al-Salem's heirs become adults and decide whether to allow the beheading or pardon him in exchange of blood money. Muhammad Hamad Al-Qahs, the murderer's uncle, said his nephew is now 37 years old. “He has been in prison for 22 years. We are so grateful that the victim's family decided to forgive him. It was a foolish crime he committed when he was young,” he said, adding that the rest of the family is also elated to see him back in their midst. “The victim's family requested a total of SR19.5 million in blood money. They wanted SR1.5 million as endowment for a house and SR18 million to be deposited into their account,” said Al-Qahs. He said the family would not have been able to pay the money if it was not for the generous donations of people from the community and business owners. “I would like to thank the emir of the Eastern Province for the just legal system they have in place. I would like to thank everyone who have supported us and reminded us to have faith in Allah. I would also like to thank the victim's family for their generosity,” the uncle said.
