Tuesday, Jun 18, 2013
Manama: An Asian expatriate in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to six years in prison and 600 lashes for sodomy. The defendant admitted that he raped a 12-year-old boy who was buying items from the shop where he worked in the Saudi capital Riyadh, local reports said on Tuesday.
The case was brought to the police attention by the boy’s father and an investigation was launched. The Asian shopkeeper said he tried to hide for three days after abusing the boy, an Arab national. He then contacted his sponsor and requested an exit visa that would allow him to make a short visit to his home country to see his “sick mother” who wanted to see him.
However, his plan failed after police tracked him, the reports said. Sodomy is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.
By Habib Toumi ?Bureau Chief
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
