logo

Egyptian Arrested For Transporting Four Undocumented Individuals Who Lacked Official Hajj Permits

Gulf Insider16-05-2025
Saudi authorities have arrested four Indonesian residents in Madinah for allegedly defrauding individuals by falsely claiming to offer sacrificial animal slaughter (Hady) services for a fee.
The suspects were apprehended by Madinah police and have been referred to the Public Prosecution following initial legal proceedings. Authorities stated the group had promoted fraudulent services targeting pilgrims through unofficial channels.
The Saudi Public Security warned against deceptive advertisements circulating on social media, particularly those claiming to provide Hajj services on behalf of others, including Hady sacrifices, the sale of Hajj identification bracelets, and transportation arrangements. It cautioned that many of these offers originate from individuals and entities operating without authorization.
Separately, Hajj security forces arrested an Egyptian national for transporting four undocumented individuals who lacked official Hajj permits. The group was intercepted en route to Mecca and has been referred to the appropriate judicial committee for sanctions.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior has reiterated that only holders of official Hajj visas are permitted to perform the pilgrimage. Visit visa holders, regardless of category, are prohibited from entering Mecca and the holy sites between Dhul-Qa'dah 1 and Dhul-Hijjah 14. Violators face fines of up to 20,000 Saudi riyals ($5,300), deportation, and a 10-year reentry ban.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

More People Misusing Social Media in Bahrain – WhatsApp Tops the List
More People Misusing Social Media in Bahrain – WhatsApp Tops the List

Daily Tribune

timea day ago

  • Daily Tribune

More People Misusing Social Media in Bahrain – WhatsApp Tops the List

Recent data has revealed a noticeable rise in cases related to the misuse of communication tools especially social media in Bahrain over the past few years. In the last three years alone, the Public Prosecution has handled around 3,683 cases involving the misuse of communication platforms. In 2024, 1,408 cases were filed under the Cybercrime Prosecution, marking a 7% increase compared to 2023 (which saw 1,314 cases), while 2022 had just 961 cases. In response to the growing threat of online offenses, Attorney General Dr. Ali bin Fadhel Al Buainain issued a decision in November 2022 to establish a dedicated Cybercrime Prosecution Unit. The aim was to better keep up with the evolving nature of digital crimes, speed up investigations, and strengthen the handling of digital evidence. More recently, this unit has dealt with a large number of cases where individuals—both citizens and residents—were found to be misusing social media to spread values and behaviors that are considered foreign to Bahraini society. Legal experts and lawyers voiced their support for the steps taken by the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Interior's Cybercrime Directorate. They also agreed that, as social media usage continues to grow, stricter laws are needed to protect society from its misuse. According to new statistics compiled by Al-Ayam, WhatsApp was involved in over half of all social media abuse cases handled since 2022. Out of 2,521 total cases related to social media misuse during this period, 1,321 were linked to WhatsApp, accounting for 52% of the total. In second place was Instagram, with 605 cases (24%). TikTok came in third with 181 cases, followed by Facebook (163 cases), and X (formerly Twitter) with just 65 cases.

Price of deception
Price of deception

Daily Tribune

time3 days ago

  • Daily Tribune

Price of deception

Top court upholds jail terms in Tamkeen fraud over fake job contracts Bahrain's top court has upheld prison terms for two men who faked job contracts for 23 ghost workers in order to extract BD86,000 from Tamkeen's employment support fund. The Court of Cassation confirmed the three-year jail sentences handed to both defendants. The first was also fined BD5,000 and will be deported once he completes his sentence. The second was ordered to pay BD1,000. Acquittal In the same ruling, judges overturned an earlier acquittal and sentenced a third man to three years in prison and a BD1,000 fine. The scheme involved bogus employment paperwork and forged wage transfers submitted to Tamkeen, which had been running a fund to support private sector jobs. The contracts named 23 people who were never employed and never worked at the company listed. Although the firm was registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and had enrolled the so-called employees with the Social Insurance Organisation and the Ministry of Labour, it had no active premises. Field visits carried out by Tamkeen found no trace of operations at the address on record or anywhere else. The Public Prosecution said the first defendant submitted fake contracts bearing forged signatures to make it appear that real salaries had been paid. Investigators said the aim was to tap into Tamkeen's payroll support. The Fourth Lower Criminal Court sentenced the first and second defendants to prison and fined them. The first was also to be deported. Appeal A third man was cleared at trial but later convicted on appeal. The High Criminal Appeals Court upheld the sentences for the first two. The Public Prosecution challenged the acquittal of the third man, leading to the Court of Cassation's decision. The complaint was filed by Tamkeen with the Anti-Corruption Directorate, part of the General Directorate for Combating Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security. The directorate's findings confirmed that the business owner had worked with two others to present fake paperwork and siphon money from the fund. The second defendant was charged with forging ten contracts, while the third was also found to have been involved in forging documents and aiding the first in claiming the funds. The court ordered the confiscation of the seized material.

Saudi Arabia: 3 Arrested After Seizing Huge Cache Of Amphetamine Pills Hidden In Sheep's Intestines In Hafar Al-Batin
Saudi Arabia: 3 Arrested After Seizing Huge Cache Of Amphetamine Pills Hidden In Sheep's Intestines In Hafar Al-Batin

Gulf Insider

time3 days ago

  • Gulf Insider

Saudi Arabia: 3 Arrested After Seizing Huge Cache Of Amphetamine Pills Hidden In Sheep's Intestines In Hafar Al-Batin

The Saudi security authorities have seized 411,546 amphetamine pills hidden inside plastic tubes in the intestines of sheep in the Hafar Al-Batin governorate in the Eastern Province. The authorities arrested the recipients —two Saudi citizens and a displaced expatriate. The arrests were made during the security campaign carried out by the Ministry of Interior to crack down on drug smugglers through close monitoring of drug smuggling and trafficking activities, which target the security of the Kingdom and its youth. The security authorities called upon citizens and residents to report any information they have about any activities related to drug smuggling or trafficking, by calling the numbers 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom. They can also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control's reporting number 995, and via email (Email: 995@ All reports will be handled with complete confidentiality, the authorities revealed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store