A senior source at the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) said that the case of a 42-year-old Saudi man accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing eight minor girls has been referred to the General Court of Jeddah Governorate. The man has been accused of frightening, beating and forcing his victims to have sex with him. Some minor girls were allegedly forced to drink alcohol and watch pornography on the man's computer. After that he would leave them on the street. The BIP said the DNA samples of the accused man are identical to the samples obtained from the clothes of one of the victims and those obtained from the scene of the crime. The suspect, who was arrested many months ago, is believed to have targeted young girls found alone in market areas and wedding halls in some districts of Jeddah. Local press also revealed that the suspect is a schoolteacher. Al-Yawm reported that the man, a husband and father of six, is being held under close observation as authorities regard him as a potential suicide threat. According to Al-Yawm, investigators believe that he committed all the acts at his home in the Al-Ajaweed district. Saudi Gazette reported earlier that six victims had also formally recognized the suspect. Police said they received reports all bearing similar characteristics from parents in Al-Kandara, Al-Balad, Al-Jami'a and Al-Sharfiya. Several local media outlets printed CCTV images of the suspect dressed in a white thobe and white shamagh headdress, pursuing victims and walking away with them at shopping areas and car parks. The first case in which the suspect is believed to be involved was reported three years ago when a nine-year-old girl was snatched from a wedding hall. According to testimonies, the rapist lured young girls into his car by offering them sweets and took them to different locations around the city. He acted at different times of the day and used two vehicles to cover his tracks, and is also reported to have caused serious facial injuries to his victims. His last victim provided enough details for police to identity him.
