Negotiations are reportedly being conducted between Al-Birr Charity lawyers and the legal representation of the imam of an Al-Kandarah District mosque to reach an out-of-court settlement over accusations that he took SR200,000 of donations to the charity. The unnamed imam, who is accused of forging documents and official charity stamps to obtain money from donators, requested that his lawyer seek an “amicable solution” involving the return of the money in exchange for the dropping of charges. Mahmoud Baqays, Director of Al-Birr Society in Jeddah, told Okaz newspaper that the move would depend on the charity's board of directors who are due to be briefed on the case. Such a development would not, however, rule out any public action against the imam, which according to anti-corruption law could result in a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of SR100,000. The Commission for Investigation and Prosecution, which took the case to the Board of Grievances, has heard the imam's confessions to embezzlement, forgery and illegally obtaining official documents, which have been certified and referred to judicial authorities. The imam currently faces two legal actions against him, the second involving a businesswoman seeking the return of SR700,000 which she believed was destined for charity. That case is set to be heard on a date between Oct. 20 and Nov. 17 of this year.
