RIYADH — Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), paid SR5 million in blood money for Mohammad Al-Aqili, a Saudi convicted of murder in 2012. Al-Aqili got into a fight with another man in January 2012 that resulted in the latter's death. He was given the death sentence but the victim's family agreed to pardon him if he paid SR23 million in blood money. A court ordered he be remanded in custody and gave him until May 4, 2015, to pay the blood money. Al-Aqili remained in prison for three years waiting for his restitution to be paid. His family managed to collect SR18 million by donations and communal support. Prince Alwaleed used his Twitter account to say he does not typically interfere with legal bails but he will relieve Al-Aqili from the death sentence. Al-Aqili's mother was ecstatic and grateful to Prince Alwaleed and his foundation. The victim's family has requested that, upon release, Al-Aqili does not enter the city of Riyadh.
