The Ministry of Justice has annulled two land deeds obtained illegally for 22 plots covering a total area of 22.4 million square meters in Jeddah. The Appeals Court in Makkah province issued a number of decisions nullifying all related documents, bringing the total land retrieved from usurpers to 110 million square meters in the past 13 months. Those affected by the verdict can approach the court to voice their grievances, the judgment said. The ministry said courts revoked seven deeds covering huge plots of land with a total area of 88 million square meters in different regions of the Kingdom. "The two deeds that were cancelled last week brought the total area of nullified deeds to 110 million square meters," said a report carried by Makkah Arabic daily. "Studies have found that the plots belonged to the government and individuals obtained deeds for them illegally," the ministry said. Of the deeds cancelled last week covered 2 million square meters in Jazan, the paper said, adding that the land with a face value of SR2 billion belonged to the government. Justice Minister Dr. Walid Al-Samaani wanted the ministry's officials to make sure that all deeds are issued legally and stop all encroachments on public and private plots. The minister has instructed his officials to be cautious about impersonation and cheating and retrieve government land from violators. He called for punitive action against those who encroach upon public and private land, producing fake and illegal documents. During the past 396 days, the ministry cancelled four deeds covering an area of 69 million square meters in Jeddah, one deed for 35 million square meters in Al-Kharj and another deed for 2.75 million square meters in Najran, the paper said. The ministry cancelled one deed in Al-Ahsa with an area of 638,000 square meters in Al-Oqair and one deed in Madinah with an area of 30,000 square meters, it added.
