JEDDAH: It has been estimated that about 600 lawyers in Jeddah alone, from a total of 2,000 registered in the Kingdom, are getting ready to defend those implicated in the 2009 flood disaster. This comes in the wake of the Ministry of Interior announcing Wednesday that a total of 302 people and 32 legal entities, representing companies, organizations and consultation offices, have been identified for questioning in connection with wrongdoing leading up to the calamity. Lawyers have defended themselves against criticism that they are defending those responsible for the flood disaster, arguing that all suspects have a right to legal representation. It has not been confirmed yet whether the suspects will be tried in Jeddah or Riyadh. The process could be similar to the case involving the forgery of a Thuwal title deed, which was considered by a Riyadh court. Innocent until proven guilty The lawyer Muhammad Zare' Al-Qarni said: “The basic rule is that the suspect is innocent unless proven guilty according to a final judicial verdict. This is mentioned in the penal procedures' regulation. Therefore, every suspect has the right to get the help of a lawyer.”“Any licensed lawyer can defend any suspect. It is true that some lawyers might have qualms about defending certain cases, but others consider the suspect innocent as long as no Shariah verdict has been issued against him.” A legitimate right According to the National Committee for Lawyers, having a legal defense is a legitimate, legal and natural right for every suspect, whether it is a commercial, administrative, criminal or security case. A suspect can ask for the help of a lawyer during an investigation and when appearing in court. The committee stressed that the public must differentiate between those lawyers licensed by the Ministry of Justice and those who are not. Those people are illegal and have been identified by the authorities. Lawyers are allowed to defend suspects because they have knowledge of the regulations involving the Administrative Investigations Department, Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution, and Control and Investigation Board. This ensures that no arbitrary decisions or practices are carried out that violate the suspect's human rights and contravenes the law of the land, said the committee. Society's view Khalid Abu Rashid, lawyer and legal consultant, said the public has a “negative” view of lawyers who represent flood suspects. “It is an incorrect view because the suspect is innocent unless proven guilty. What if one of the suspects is innocent or has no direct link to the disaster? Can he be treated equally with the main [violators]? Of course his charges will be less. Hiring a lawyer is a legitimate right for a suspect. Pleading for the suspect does not mean that the lawyer is justifying his stance. Hiring a lawyer is guaranteed by the law. As for the fees, it depends on the lawyer's experience, his status and reputation. There is no fixed fee; it depends on the surrounding circumstances.” Abu Rashid rejected accusations that lawyers were trying to exploit the suspects because they are reportedly rich.
