JEDDAH: Sources at the Board of Grievances have said that the trials of persons accused over the fatal Jeddah floods of Nov. 2009 will be held “95 percent” openly. The sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the media, relatives of defendants and human rights groups will be permitted to attend, depending on the progress of the trials, although the decision to hold open trials rests with the presiding judge, in accordance with Article 64 of Shariah Procedural Law. The Control and Investigation Board (CIB), meanwhile, has proposed setting up a general prosecution committee with representatives from the CIB, the General Auditing Bureau, and the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution to take public action against the accused and draw up lists of charges. Sources also told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the penal circuits at the Board of Grievances' Administrative Courts are the judicial authority that will hear cases of financial or administrative corruption involving employees of the state. The District and General courts will hear cases involving money laundering, fraud and swindling. “All sentences will be open to appeal and defendants can choose any licensed legal representation they wish in accordance with the law,” they said. “Defendants are not being held in custody or under guard.” It is yet to be confirmed whether the flood trials will be held in Jeddah or Riyadh, but Saudi Gazette reported Saturday that some 600 lawyers in Jeddah alone are preparing defenses. The Ministry of Interior announced last week that 302 people and 32 legal entities have been identified for questioning over the disaster, which led to the deaths of more than 100 people and widespread damage to property and infrastructure.
