The trial of nine individuals, some of them former Jeddah Mayoralty officials involved in the Jeddah flood case, was adjourned Monday by the Administrative Court in the Board of Grievances for further examination of evidence. The presiding judge read the charges leveled against the accused and listened to their statements. The first accused flatly denied charges of bribery. He also added that his confession was obtained under duress. The third accused also denied the charge that he was involved in illegal transactions of his real estate. The fourth accused maintained that all six buildings he owned were in compliance with respective regulations and therefore he did not have any problem that would have compelled him to pay a bribe to any official working for the mayoralty. The buildings, he said, had some electrical problems which could be sorted out by the Saudi Electricity Company and not the mayoralty. Three defendants did not appear before the court and sent their representatives instead. The court will take up the case again on May 30. __
