Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Ministry of Interior has identified major crimes that warrant the arrest of suspects, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported on Saturday. A directive issued by Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad Bin Naif that authorizes the head of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIP) to release suspects in certain cases based on the recommendations of investigators will go into effect on May 26. The directive has identified major crimes as murder, which is punishable by execution, and terrorism, supporting terrorism and crimes affecting national security, which carry punishments not less than two years in prison. Major crimes also include those listed in Article 118 of the Financial Securities System, unless the offender settles the amount or reaches an amicable solution with the plaintiff. Embezzlement of public funds, including money from companies that provide public services, companies in which the government is a stake holder, and banks and companies that provide banking services, is also listed among crimes that warrant the arrest of the suspects unless they pay back the embezzled amounts immediately. The directive also included in the list premeditated bodily assault that results in amputation, any injury that necessitates more than 15 days for recovery unless the victim relinquished his or her right and premeditated abuse of public property that results in damages of more than SR5,000. Other major crimes include abusing and assaulting a parent, forcible entry into homes with the intent of stealing or bodily assault, car theft, adultery, manufacturing liquor, smuggling or promoting it, driving under the influence of intoxicants, drag racing, driving in the opposite direction, running a red light that results in death or amputation, assault of a public official on duty or causing damage to his official vehicle, using a firearm with the intention of assault or to threaten someone and invasion of privacy by photographing others and using the photographs to threaten them. Cases in which the head of the BIP is authorized to release offenders include forcible entry into homes, theft, adultery, traffic offenses, assaulting a public official and liquor-related cases. According to figures released by the Department of Prisons, there were 44,507 prisoners in the Kingdom's jails in 2010 and nearly 25,072 detainees. Of the total detainees, 12,603 were non-Saudis. Males accounted for 90.3 percent of the detainees. More than 90 percent of the female detainees were foreigners.
