The Administrative Court in Jeddah has postponed for the third time the handing over its verdict documents to 16 Taif municipality officials convicted in July of bribery and corruption. The postponing of the detailed verdicts' release until the end of next week means that the 16 will have to wait again until they are fully able to prepare their defense appeals against sentences which ranged from prison, dismissal from employment, and fines. Seven others accused were absolved of all charges, while two private businessmen were fined SR150,000 each. “These continued delays and changing of deadlines from one date to another is really beginning to affect us,” said some of those convicted who preferred to remain unnamed. “We don't see why it should be taking this long if the verdicts are correct and clear cut.” Detailed expositions of the sentences, required in order for appeals to be formulated and proceed, were due to be presented by the court on the fourth day of Ramadan following a previous postponement of 28 days because of what one legal source close to the case said were “entirely administrative” reasons concerning the “size of the case and the number of persons involved”. Some of those charged said they were dismayed at what they described as “harsh” sentences and inconsistent verdicts for similar charges. The 16 were sentenced for accepting bribes totaling SR1.4 million from private businessmen for the award of government grants, wasting public money, appropriating government funds for personal gain, falsification of data, and illegally supplying electricity to homes.
