Saudi gang that kidnapped and tortured blind woman and poet sentenced to 155 years in prison
Eleven members of an organized crime group, including eight Saudis and three Sudanese, were jailed for a combined sentence of 155 years after a Saudi court found them guilty of fraud, extortion, fraud, illegal detention and money laundering.
The Saudi Gazette, reporting in a special issue of the Arabic newspaper Okaz, said that “the gang network was found guilty of organizing complex fraud schemes that resulted in the theft of SAR40 million ($10.67 million) through forgery, forged property documents, real estate transactions, abuse of trust and financial fraud.”
Investigators said the ring was led by a businessman assisted by his own misyar wife, hairdresser, and several others. The gang leader, who has a criminal record and several outstanding arrest warrants issued in the past, rented a beach house for SAR1 million (US$270,000) a year to project an image of wealth, used luxury cars and prime phone numbers.
The gang targets high-profile victims
Criminal gangs will rely on real estate broker offices to facilitate fraud. The victims include a former manager of the national football team, a blind woman, an honorary member of the main Saudi football team, a Saudi poet, and other people.
The defendants would lure victims by selling fake goods using fake title deeds. They used handcuffs and a gun to tie up the victims and obtain bank checks by force.
In one incident, a gang stole a football team member’s check while he was praying. In another case, they defrauded a former national team official of SAR12 million (US$3.2 million) and also seized SAR6 million (US$1.6 million) from a blind woman.
The gang made a blind woman give her power of attorney, which enabled them to confiscate her assets, and forcefully obtained a SAR5 million check at gunpoint.
In one incident, a real estate agent was locked inside a chalet, blindfolded, handcuffed and threatened at gunpoint until a bank check was cashed.
Prosecutors presented nearly 250 pieces of evidence, including digital records, confessions, and financial documents. The wife said she had been used to cover up crimes including fraud and drug possession.
The gang faces long sentences, fines, bans
Okaz said the court decided to revoke the death sentence and issue prison terms based on the activities of each defendant. This decision is now final after it was approved by the Court of Appeal.
The gang leader was sentenced to 25 years in prison and imposed a 25-year travel ban, while the wife received a 13-year sentence, a similar travel ban, and a SAR100,000 (US$26,666) fine.
A Sudanese national has been sentenced to 18 years in prison and exile for illegal detention, electronic harassment and money laundering.
Some defendants received sentences ranging from eight to 18 years, fines of up to SAR100,000, travel bans and deportation orders for non-Saudis.
A civil servant involved in the crimes was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the gang leader’s sister also received a 12-year sentence, a travel ban and a fine.
