RIYADH: The General Court in Riyadh has convicted four criminals for physically assaulting a group of expatriates in Riyadh and robbing them of their money and mobile phones. The court sentenced the four to a total of 35 years in prison and 2,700 lashes of the whip. Police in Riyadh said Al-Faisalia and Al-Khaldia Commercial Centers had reported to the police on Tuesday that expatriates of different nationalities were attacked, including a worker from East Asia who said he was attacked by four persons driving a Toyota Hilux pick-up while he was in the warehouses area near Al-Faisalia District. He reportedly said that they beat him up, robbed him of SR1,500 and his mobile phone and then fled. In addition, the police said an Arab expatriate was in Al-Faisalia District to visit his neighbors when four people beat him up and stole his wallet. Following this the police said several people had reported similar incidents. The police then assigned a team to round up the criminals. They were all arrested and sent to court which sentenced the first culprit to 15 years imprisonment and 1,000 lashes of the whip, the second to 10 years and 700 lashes, the third and fourth each to five years in prison and 500 lashes.
