Raids net hundreds of illegals

A total of 1,200 police officers have been deployed in the Western Region to arrest illegal workers, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.
More officers would be deployed if necessary, said Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Al-Sooli, director general of Makkah Police, at a press conference.
Al-Sooli said the police department has information about places to inspect. Officers would conduct more than one raid at a specific location. There would be multiple visits within the space of hours and days, he said.
He urged the public to cooperate with the police, and use the 989 toll free number to provide information on illegal workers in the country. He said the deportation of illegal workers was vital for the country’s stability and prosperity.
“If you follow the principles of your religion by paying Zakat, giving charity, and praying, you are also obliged to protect the nation from violators who are affecting the way it functions. The security forces consist of your brothers, cousins and neighbors and you have to cooperate with them.”
Al-Sooli said there are many operations planned for Jeddah because it is a business hub and the gateway to the two holy mosques. “We will deport illegal expatriates and also not spare their employers whether big, small, beggar or businessman.”
There would also be penalties for property owners that rent homes to violators. “We will check rent agreements gradually,” he said. Police officers are conducting inspections at entry and exit points in the city, and at schools.

Al-Sooli said the second phase of the crackdown on illegal workers, which began on Sunday, would focus on ensuring that expatriates are in jobs matching those stated on their residence permits.
He said the crackdown on illegal workers over the past few months has resulted in a 14 percent drop in the crime rate. The police are currently working with Saudi Arabian Airlines and embassies to organize travel documents and plan deportation procedures, he said.
Al-Sooli said that most of the people arrested previously were from Yemen and Pakistan. In reply to a question, he said that the police would arrest those Burmese nationals who have no identity documents. They would be treated like other illegal expatriates, he said.

Raids intensified: End of the road for illegals

Hundreds of residency and labor law violators have been arrested during the raids launched by the Interior and Labor Ministries.
“We have made preparations to conduct an intensive crackdown on illegal foreigners in the Kingdom’s different regions and we have adopted new mechanisms for the purpose,” said a joint statement issued by the two ministries on Monday.
In the Eastern Province alone police arrested 658 illegal foreign workers on the first day, bringing the total number of expats arrested in the region to 145,295. A total of 5411 illegals were held in Jazan, 633 in Asir and 60 in Baha.
The new mechanisms aim to track violators and punish them in accordance with the Kingdom’s laws, the statement said. Officials told Arab News that penalties would be applied not only to illegal expats but also those who shelter them, hire them and enable them to move around.
Sponsors who allowed their foreign workers to open own private businesses and employers who failed to report their overstaying workers face punishments.
The joint raids by the two ministries, in the second phase of the major campaign, will also target private businesses of expat workers, absentees from work, infiltrators and Haj and Umrah pilgrims who overstayed visas.
Foreigners who came on visit visas as well as for tourism, treatment and transit purposes and did not leave the Kingdom before the expiry of their visas will also be arrested and deported, the statement said while urging citizens to support the campaign to free the Kingdom from illegals.
Institutions that employ infiltrators will be fined SR100,000, slapped a five-year ban on recruitment while its manager will be jailed for two years. If the manager is an expat, he will be deported after serving the jail sentence.
Haj and Umrah companies who fail to inform the competent authorities for any delayed departure of their pilgrims after the deadline will be fined up to SR100,000.
The statement urged citizens and residents to follow the residency and labor regulations so they are not subjected to fines amounting up to SR100,000, jail for six months and five-year recruitment ban.
Those who harbor illegal expats can also face similar fines amounting up to SR 100,000, two-year imprisonment and deportation if they are expats. The ministries stated that the fines vary depending on the crimes.
The ministries urged citizens to report violators by calling 989. The list of violations and penalties can be found on their websites.

OFW, who killed Saudi employer, executed in Riyadh

MANILA, Philippines - An overseas Filipino worker, who killed his Saudi employer in 2007, was executed in Riyadh on Monday.

"It is with sadness that we confirm the execution of OFW Joven Esteva at 9 am today (Saudi time) in Riyadh," Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said.

Esteva, a family driver, was convicted of murder in 2007 for killing his Saudi employer, as well as injuring his employer's son.

Jose said despite the Philippine government's efforts, the victim's family refused to grant Esteva forgiveness.

"We have provided Mr. Esteva all necessary and appropriate legal and consular assistance, including providing a lawyer, since his arrest in 2007. Regrettably, despite efforts of the Philippine government, the family of victim refused to grant forgiveness," he said.

To recall, Esteva arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2006, where he started to work as a family driver. His employer was a professor at a university in Riyadh, and reportedly treated Esteva well.

In January 2007, Esteva started experiencing health problems, including insomnia. After he was unable to sleep for months, Esteva was sent by his employer to a clinic for a check-up but the results were negative.

In May 2007, Esteva killed his employer and nearly killed his son.

The court found Esteva guilty and sentenced him to death by beheading.

Despite an appeal by the embassy that Esteva was not in his right state of mind during the incident, the Court of Cassation re-affirmed the death sentence. - With report from Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News

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by: Vicky 

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