Manama: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Judicial Council has lifted the immunity from prosecution of three judges, clearing the way for criminal charges to be brought against them for their alleged role in a massive real estate fraud.
The scam reportedly covered areas of up to 400 million square metres in six coastal cities for the benefit of businessmen, local daily Al Watan reported on Tuesday.
The decision to lift immunity was made following an investigation launched into the case to assess their implication in the issuance of fraudulent certificates.
According to sources cited by the daily, the probe by a special committee included a scrutiny of 20 certificates, but added that the number could go up as the investigators continued their work into how the ownership of public lands was transferred to private citizens.
The largest frauds occurred in the Red Sea resort of Jeddah, one of the most attractive cities in Saudi Arabia.
The sources told the daily that the move against the judges was part of measures adopted by the justice ministry to fight corruption and to bring all those involved in the fraud to justice.
Under Saudi laws, judges enjoy immunity from investigations that can be lifted only by the Supreme Judicial Council.
Probes and subsequent trials are conducted in private and investigation outcomes can be announced only following the issuance of a final court verdict that finds the judge guilty.
