Abdulrahman Al-Ali Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A trial of two members from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Hai'a) accused of beating a youth and tearing his clothes has been adjourned due to a lack of witnesses. The Jeddah Administrative Court scheduled a new session to review the accusations against the two Hai'a members. The pair was accused of stopping the victim's car next to a shopping mall. One of them had asked the victim for identification and then began beating him, it was alleged. The victim was bruised and his clothes torn as a result of the attack, the court heard. During the first trial hearing, one of the defendants rejected the accusations against him. He said the victim committed an offense near a shopping mall. The defendant said he asked the victim for identification but was met with resistance. The victim tried to flee the police officers who were accompanying the Hai'a members, the court heard. The judge, Saad Al-Malki, asked the defendant for a response to witness statements that said the victim was beaten. The defendant said the testimonies were incorrect. The judge asked the defendant whether he had been suspended from work or still on duty. The accused said he was still on duty but was transferred to the anti-begging committee. The second defendant also rejected the accusations against him. The witnesses were called to testify but none were present. However, they had already testified during the preliminary hearings. The judge said the absence of witnesses caused the trial to be adjourned until the end of the Islamic month of Safar. Written notices will be delivered to the witnesses asking them to appear in court to testify.
