QATIF — A Saudi court sentenced a young man to 15 years, including a 5-year suspended sentence, in prison for taking part in riots at Al-Awamiya town in Qatif governorate last year. He was charged with hurling Molotov cocktails at security officers during the rioting. He was also accused of sheltering people wanted for firing upon police officers during the riots, as well as breaking into a pharmacy and stealing medicines. The judge decided to suspend five years of the prison sentence in view of the defendant's tender age. However, he warned that if the accused was found breaking the law again after serving his sentence, he would be put back in jail to serve the remaining term, in addition to the punishment for his new offenses. The accused challenged the verdict and said he would file an appeal.
