Saudis offer better protection to "subjects" arrested abroad

By Rachel Ehrenfeld

The benevolent Saudi King  Abdullah decided it's time to better protect his "subjects" abroad (http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=419022&news_type=Top〈=en), ordering Saudi embassies worldwide to provide bail and legal advise to Saudis detained abroad.

Arab News reported that King ordered diplomatic missions to appoint lawyers to defend Saudi citizens who are arrested on any charges during their stay abroad and will pay bail for  them under new regulations approved by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Al-Madinah newspaper reported yesterday.

"The daily said starting next year, the budget of the Foreign Ministry would  include provisions under the title, "Expenses of catering to the judicial requirements of Saudi citizens abroad."

It said the amount of money required would be decided by the Foreign and  Finance ministries and the allocation would be used to pay the fees of  lawyers, bail and other costs until the citizen is released and sent home.

The Saudi missions will follow up with the legal entities in countries concerned to make sure that the citizens receive a fair trial before they are either acquitted or convicted, the new regulations stipulate.

According to these regulations, the citizen will pay back the money spent on  him abroad after returning to the Kingdom if he was arrested for negligence  or for deliberate mistakes. He will also have to pay any financial  settlements related to the alleged crime.

The diplomatic missions will send comprehensive reports about any such cases  to the Foreign Ministry. They will also continue to provide citizens with legal counseling and help them choose qualified lawyers for civil contracts, personal affairs and correspondence with foreign governments.

The Foreign Ministry is being requested to contract an experienced American  law firm with strong ties to other legal entities in order to assist with legal cases involving Saudi citizens in the United States."

This new development would surely help keep more Saudis charged with terrorism or other serious crime in the name of Jihad, to keep mum when arrested.