year-old boy who was held in a police station for over six hours has called for officials in charge to be brought to account for what he says is his son's resultant poor health. Eight-year-old Faisal was held at Al-Muntazahat police station along with his elder brothers from 9.P.M. last Tuesday until 2.A.M the next day after a neighbor accused them of robbery. Their father claims the sons were not submitted to any investigations during that period of detention. At 2.A.M. Faisal was taken alone by police to Jeddah's juvenile detention center Dar Al-Mulahadha, where officials refused to admit him due to his age, and was then returned to the police station. Police then called on Faisal's father to pick up his son. According to his father, Faisal began to suffer bouts of extreme anxiety which have persisted since the incident and forced him to remain at home from school. The father has now called for those responsible to be investigated. “None of the accusations against Faisal and my other sons were proven, and a judge exonerated them at Dar Al-Mulahadha and let them go,” he said. A police source said that all the correct procedures had been followed. “The boy and his brothers were held following an accusation of robber y made by a citizen, and they were called to report to the police station via their father and all the required measures were taken,” the officer said. A public relations official from Social Affairs in Makkah said the refusal of Dar Al-Mulahadha to admit the boys was based on regulations prohibiting the center holding anyone younger than ten years old. “Should such an individual need to come to the center to complete certain procedures then that is done in the company of the guardian who is required to be present,” the official said.
