Saudi- 17 passport employees under probe

(MENAFN- Arab News) Dammam's administrative court is investigating 17 employees from the Eastern Province Passports Department for possible corruption and abuse of power charges after they reportedly allowed a citizen under the age of 21 to travel abroad without his father's permission which is prohibited in Saudi law.

The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIPP) found the boy guilty after looking into 24 pieces of evidence including a statement from the illegal traveler and a copy of the documents sanctioning his travel as well as a statement from a passenger who traveled with the person in question.

The traveler who was caught after his brother had reported him missing said that he had called a friend upon arrival in Kuwait to get him through passport control.

He admitted to having traveled to Kuwait illegally many times with the help of one of the employees. He also admitted to having crossed the King Fahd Causeway.

The citizen's relative has been accused of helping him leave the Kingdom illegally while the passport official was accused of abuse of authority by allowing him through.

The BIPP has demanded the implementation of articles in the anti-corruption law by charging the traveler his relative and the 17 employees to prison terms and penalties.

The court found the signature of an official on the travel documents who denied giving permission for anyone to travel without their guardian's consent.