The accused in the murder of artist Saeed Mukhtar has been referred to criminal trial

In a significant legal development, the competent investigative authorities in 6th of October City ordered the referral of the accused in the murder of artist Saeed Mokhtar to urgent criminal trial. This decision comes after the completion of investigations into the incident that shocked public opinion, which ended with the artist's death by stabbing during a fight that broke out due to family disputes concerning visitation rights with his son.

Background to the tragedy: Betrayal and a dispute over seeing a child

The case stems from escalating disputes between the late artist and his wife, who had filed for divorce. According to the artist's lawyer, the crime was not a spur-of-the-moment act, but rather the result of premeditated planning. The lawyer explained that her client was on his way to meet his son at a shopping mall, as previously arranged, when his wife surprised him by changing the meeting place to the vicinity of the Wadi Degla Club in the Hadayek October district, the location where the crime took place.

Shocking legal details: The wife is married to both the victim and the perpetrator

The victim's lawyer revealed a legal twist that could alter the course of the case, asserting that the claim that the wife was the artist's "ex-wife" is legally inaccurate. She explained that the divorce case filed by the wife last September is still pending, meaning she was still legally married to the artist, Saeed Mokhtar, at the time of the crime. Consequently, her customary marriage to the accused murderer is legally invalid, placing her in a complex legal situation. She added that this situation raises questions about the motives behind the crime and whether the disputes extended beyond mere visitation rights.

The caring father and the final meeting

In a related context, the lawyer emphasized that the late artist was extremely keen on providing for all his son's needs. He had rented an apartment for his wife and son at the beginning of last November and had transferred money to her just hours before his murder. She indicated that the wife had been preventing him from seeing the child recently, and that her presence, accompanied by her common-law husband (the accused), at the scheduled visitation was the spark that ignited the bloody altercation, which ended with the artist receiving fatal stab wounds that caused his immediate death.

The importance of referral to criminal courts and the impact of the case

Referring the accused to the Criminal Court is a crucial step towards achieving justice, signifying that the Public Prosecution has concluded its investigations and gathered sufficient evidence to convict the accused of premeditated murder. The case has gained widespread societal importance, highlighting the dangers of family disputes and their disastrous consequences, as well as sparking debate about unregistered marriages and the legal and social problems arising from them. The public now awaits the start of the trial to learn all the details of the crime and to see justice served for the victim.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday the execution of a Saudi citizen and a Syrian resident in the Eastern Province, after they were convicted of bringing a quantity of amphetamine pills into the Kingdom with the intention of promoting and trading them.

The ministry explained in its statement that the convicted individuals are citizen Alaa bin Ibrahim bin Ali Al-Mahdhar and Syrian resident Bilal Abdullah Al-Sidawi. Security forces apprehended them in the act. After conducting the necessary investigations, they were formally charged and referred to the competent court.

The case went through all stages of litigation guaranteed by the Kingdom's judicial system. A preliminary ruling was issued against them, finding them guilty and sentencing them to death. The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal and then by the Supreme Court, making it final and binding. Accordingly, a royal decree was issued ordering the implementation of the legally mandated punishment, and the sentence was carried out today.

General context: The Kingdom's war on drugs

This ruling comes within the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing and resolute efforts to combat the scourge of drugs, which it considers a serious threat to the security of society and the well-being of its members, especially young people. The Kingdom applies strict and deterrent penalties, including the death penalty, against drug smugglers and traffickers, based on the provisions of Islamic Sharia law, which aims to protect the five necessities, including the preservation of life and intellect. The punishment of "discretionary execution" is a discretionary penalty determined by the judge for serious crimes that cause significant harm to society, such as drug trafficking.

The importance of the event and its expected impact

Domestically, the execution of this sentence sends a strong deterrent message to anyone who might contemplate jeopardizing the security of the nation, its citizens, and residents, and underscores the absolute zero tolerance for this type of crime. Regionally, it reflects Saudi Arabia's pivotal role in combating transnational drug trafficking networks, particularly those dealing with amphetamine (known as Captagon), which is prevalent in some countries in the region and directly targets the Kingdom. Internationally, this action highlights the rigor of the Saudi judicial system in dealing with major crimes and reaffirms the Kingdom's commitment to international agreements related to combating illicit drug trafficking.

At the end of its statement, the Ministry of Interior reiterated the keenness of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to combat drugs of all kinds because of the serious harm they cause to the individual and society, while warning all those who commit such criminal acts that they will face the legal punishment.