Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Saudi Court Sentences 11 Defendants to 155 Years for Major Fraud Network
A Saudi court has sentenced an organized crime group of 11 defendants, eight Saudi citizens and three Sudanese nationals, to a total of 155 years in prison. The group was convicted of large-scale fraud, robbery, forgery, unlawful detention, and money laundering.
According to exclusive information obtained by Okaz, the court decided to replace the death penalty with prison sentences. The ruling was based on the different roles played by each defendant and the absence of legal grounds for capital punishment.
The Court of Appeal later confirmed the verdict, making it final.
Investigators found that the criminal cell ran complicated fraud operations that stole around SR40 million. They lied, made fraudulent property ownership documents, faked real estate deals, broke trust, and stole money from people. Read: Saudi Arabia declared its National Security a Red Line
The gang also used handcuffs and a firearm to detain victims and force them to hand over bank checks.
Authorities said the group was led by a businessman. His misyar wife, a hairdresser, assisted him, as did several other accomplices. Victims included a former supervisor of the Saudi national football team, a blind woman, an honorary member of a major Saudi football club, a Saudi poet, and other individuals.
Court records indicated that the accused used bogus title papers to trick people into buying fake properties.
In one incident, the gang stole a bank check from an honorary football club member while he was praying. They stole SR6 million from a blind woman and defrauded a former national team official of SR12 million in another case.
To appear wealthy and trustworthy, the gang leader rented a seaside chalet for SR1 million per year, used luxury vehicles, owned premium phone numbers, and worked through real estate brokerage offices to carry out the scams.
In one case, a real estate broker was detained inside the chalet. He was blindfolded, handcuffed, threatened with a firearm, and forced to issue a bank check, which the gang later cashed. See Also: Saudi Police arrests 5 expats in Asir region on charges of prostitution
The court saw around 250 pieces of evidence from the prosecutors. These were things like digital recordings, confessions, and money paperwork. Investigators also found out that the gang boss had a long history of crime and multiple outstanding arrest warrants.
The misyar wife informed the court that the gang used her as a cover for crimes like fraud and drug possession.
Prosecutors also described cases in which the gang convinced a blind woman to sign powers of attorney, allowing them to take control of her assets. In another incident, the group forcibly obtained an SR5 million check at gunpoint after detaining the victim for several hours.
The court sentenced the gang leader to 25 years in prison and imposed a 25-year travel ban. His misyar wife received a 13-year prison sentence, a 13-year travel ban, and a fine of SR100,000.
One Sudanese resident was sentenced to 18 years in prison and deportation after being convicted of unlawful detention, electric torture, and money laundering.
Other defendants received prison sentences ranging from eight to 18 years. Some were fined SR100,000, given travel bans, and ordered to be deported if they were non-Saudi nationals.
A government employee involved in the crimes was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The gang leader’s sister received a 12-year prison sentence, a travel ban, and a fine after being convicted of fraud and money laundering.
The court also ordered the confiscation of all seized money, mobile phones, SIM cards used in the crimes, assets linked to money laundering, and the firearm used by the gang. Most Viewed: Saudi Arabia bans Promissory notes for credit cards
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| Saudi Court Sentences 11 Defendants to 155 Years for Major Fraud Network |
