The Appeals Court has approved the Shariah decision issued by the General Court here sentencing a gang of seven Arabs, who specialized in theft and pickpocketing, to a total of 43 years behind bars and 4,320 lashes of the whip besides deportation from the country after completion of their prison sentences. Riyadh Police said on Thursday that after studying a number of reports of theft at several police stations, they were able to detect a crime pattern which led them to arrest an Arab expatriate who was residing in the Kingdom illegally. “Under interrogation the man admitted to committing a large number of thefts with the help of six of his fellow countrymen. He said he used a forged Iqama and other documents in his movement from place to place. All his accomplices were arrested,” the police said. Riyadh Police further said, “Investigation of the seven led to them admitting to all of their crimes, and their confessions were endorsed by the Shariah Court. The criminals also showed the police the locations where they committed their crimes, and a large number of stolen items were found in the possession of one of the gang members.” The General Court sentenced six of the thieves each to seven years in jail and 700 lashes of the whip plus deportation, while the seventh was sentenced to one year behind bars and 120 lashes.
