Hai'a members must not chase or engage in hot pursuit of civilians, whether accused or guilty of crime, due to the bad consequences such activity has on life and property, the Hai'a chief said Saturday. Sheikh Dr. Abdullateef Aal Al-Sheikh, chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a), instructed all Hai'a branches in the Kingdom that members of the Commission must note down the information of the wanted persons and give it to the security forces to follow up with the case. This would ensure there is no overlapping of powers or jurisdictions with other government authorities, Aal Al-Sheikh said. Necessary measures will be taken against anyone who violate these directives, he added. Meanwhile, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh, has ordered concerned authorities to punish anyone found guilty of harassing others in shopping centers, according to a report in Al-Watan newspaper. The punishment will be 5 days in prison for a first-time offender and 35 days for a repeat offender.
