A Reconciliation Committee employee has been charged with abuse of power resulting in completely destroying a family's life. The Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) claims the man's meddling led to the break up of a family that had trusted him to reconcile their differences. The Jeddah District court has heard that the man was engaged to reconcile a dispute between the family members. However the employee is said to have betrayed the family's trust by keeping the two sons away from their father. He is also alleged to have sponsored one of the youths at a police station, where he claimed to be the boy's maternal uncle. He also transferred the other son to a different school without the knowledge or consent of his father. Finally, the BIP accuses the employee of contributing to the death of one of the plaintiff's sons. The son suffered from a psychiatric disorder and was not permitted to drive a vehicle. However, the employee gave the youth a car, which he crashed. The young man later died from his injuries sustained in the car crash. The committee employee is also accused of trying to deceive investigative authorities in order to escape punishment. Sources claim that at the start of investigations against him the accused was clean-shaven. However during the investigation he grew a beard and shortened his thobe in order to pose as pious in appearance so as to evade charges of breaking up the family. The Prosecutor General is demanding a stiff penalty for the defendant, claiming his meddling betrayed the trust of a family and ruined their lives. The man's trial will begin next week before the District Court judge. __
