The Cabinet Monday approved a series of measures to tackle bounced checks, including prison terms and public defamation for persons convicted of writing bad checks. The weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, also approved measures to allow persons issuing bad checks to be taken into custody, and for such acts to be investigated by the Commission for Investigation and Prosecution (CIP) before being referred back to the authority concerned for a final ruling. The relevant authority is to resolve disputes concerning commercial papers such as checks within 30 days from the case being put before it, and the authority is also to issue more severe penalties for persons convicted of writing bad checks, including prison terms and public defamation. The SAMA is also to introduce procedures for the prompt issuing of objection papers by banks when unable to cash checks. The Cabinet was briefed on recent consultations with foreign leaders and envoys, including Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawwar, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The King lauded relations between the Kingdom and India and the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding that “reflect a new era in the strategic partnership between the two countries”. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, told the SPA that the Cabinet was briefed by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, on the 19th gathering of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council which saw the signing of agreements, executive programs and MoUs. The Cabinet was also briefed by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, on the 2nd meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council, during which the Prince lauded agreements signed and the “constructive talks” signaling the “deep relations between the two countries”. The Cabinet also looked at developments in the Arab, Islamic and international arenas and condemned the storming of courtyards at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem Sunday by Israeli occupation authorities and clashes with worshippers. It also denounced the inclusion of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem to the list of Israeli heritage sites and excavations beneath the walls of Occupied Jerusalem. The Cabinet also approved that a committee be formed of members of the ministries of Interior, Justice, Trade and Industry, Communications and Information Technology, and Finance, as well as the Customs Department, Saudi Post and SAMA, to study how to put into effect regulations on civil status, “iqama” residency and the commercial register to oblige every national and expatriate, company and organization to provide official contact addresses or changes in address.
