Authorities arrested a Pakistani national Tuesday for forging Haj permits for illegal residents. The Pakistani forger, who has lived in the Kingdom for the last five years, was identified as Aziz Rahman. Police found that forgery deals were mediated by Rahman's accomplice, a Pakistani taxi driver. Police were initially tipped off on Rahman's illegal business which placed him under close scrutiny and monitored his movements. After a few days of surveillance, nothing appeared suspicious about Rahman who worked as a barber. He led a normal life. His accomplice, however, raised the suspicions whenever he visited him with a newspaper in his hand, only to place it on the table and take another one with him before leaving Rahman's barbershop. Detectives noticed that the taxi driver worked more of a newspaper delivery man than a customer, raising doubts about what could have been wrapped in the newspaper. The taxi driver visited the barbershop everyday, but never had his hair cut, which started to confirm the police doubts. The driver was then followed and stopped at a checkpoint. When his car was inspected, the police found forged Haj permits with fake stamps in the name of an Islamic organization run by Rahman. Each forged Haj permit was found in a separate envelop along with a forged ID of the permit holder. When investigated, the taxi driver said that his job was limited to only delivering the permits to the illegal pilgrim for SR10 each, while Rahman netted SR250 for each permit he forged. Both men have been taken into custody for further investigation.
