Corpun file 24401 at www.corpun.com

Saudi Gazette, Jeddah, 13 March 2013

Jail terms, lashes for rioters

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QATIF -- The Qatif District Court has sentenced two brothers to a month in prison and 200 lashes for their role in the Qatif riots, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

The brothers have also undertaken a pledge not to participate in such rebellious behavior.

The court has acquitted a third individual of rioting charges.

The judge, Metrif Al-Bishr, told the young man: "After reviewing the case, we did not find any implicating evidence against you. Our basis is that you are innocent until proven guilty. We have decided on your acquittal due to insufficient evidence."

The Eastern Province Appeals Court has upheld the sentences. The Appeals Court has also upheld two other sentences issued by Qatif District Court.

The first sentence was against a 19-year-old young man who sentenced to four months and 10 days in prison, and pledged not to participate in disruptive behavior.

The young man had confessed to participating in 15 riots against the government. As he had already spent the sentencing period in prison during the judicial proceedings, he was set free.