Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — A judge, two notaries public and a number of realtors worked together to illegally seize three pieces of empty government land in Jeddah covering a total area of 12 million square meters, Al-Watan newspaper reported Wednesday quoting informed judicial sources. The sources said two of the plots are in the Corniche area and the third in Obhur. The government has earmarked the land to construct amusement parks for the public as well as offices for some government departments. The government has issued clear instructions to the courts and notaries public never to give private ownership deeds for these plots of land to any individual. The government has banned any construction on them. The sources said the illegal ownership of the land was discovered when a supervisory government body asked the General Court in Jeddah about the deeds on the three plots, which had been assigned for public utilities. They said after thorough investigations, the General Court reached the conclusion that public officials and realtors obtained the ownership deeds even after the government warning. The sources said the court forwarded a report of its findings to the supervisory body, including the names of all those involved in the fraud. The findings were then presented to the higher authorities for further action.
