A royal decree approved the conclusions of the committee formed in accordance with directives of Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz to investigate a fire at Haer Penitentiary in Riyadh on 18/7/1424H, which resulted in the suffocation and death of 68 inmates of Saudi and other nationalities.
The committee concluded that inmate Saeed Fuhaid Al-Sbaiee lit the fire intentionally by. Al-Sbaiee will be referred to a religious court for trial.
An official source at the Interior Ministry said that a number of the penitentiary’s administrative officials and guards were found guilty of negligence and failure to implement evacuation plans and safety rules.
The Director of Jails in Riyadh Region was relieved of his post due to his ineffective supervision and follow-up. Other officials will be tried and punished.
The sum of SR100,000 will be distributed to the immediate families of deceased inmates.
Source: SPA
