Statement on case of two Egyptian physicians issued by

Riyadh, November 23 , SPA -- Directorate of Health Affairs in the
Region of Makkah issued a clarifying statement on the case of the two
Egyptian physicians who in line with the Sharia (Islamic law) were
sentenced to imprisonment and flogging in the kingdom. In the
statement, the directorate explained the facts of the case and said:

First, Administrative Investigation had information that physician
Shawqi Abdraboh Ibrahim, an Egyptian National, was trading in medical
drugs and injecting them illegally.

Second, physician Shawqi Abdraboh was arrested by the Administrative
Investigation on 28/9/1427 H. Investigation with him resulted in
accusing him with committing the following crimes:

1- Participation in bringing 950 ampuls of the drug dormikom and 420
ampuls of the drug nalufin into the kingdom for selling them.

2- Participation in bringing 36 ampuls of the drug dormikom and a
quantity of the drug nalufin and trying to participate in bringing
164 ampuls of the drug dormikom for selling them

3- Stealing 10 ampuls of the drug dormikom from Alansar hospital in
Jeddah, the place of his work, and illegally acquiring and selling a
quantity of the drugs nalium and Ketamine.

4- Acquiring two ampuls of the drug dormikom and 4 injections
containing it for the purpose of selling them and possessing large
quantities of injections and compounds to use them in selling the
drugs.

5- Buying 100 ampuls of the drug dormikom from the second defendant
Raoof Amin Mohammad Ala'rabi, an Egyptian national, for selling them.

6- Selling 4 ampuls of the drug dormikom to the second defendant
physician Raoof Amin Mohammad Ala'rabi.

7- Establishing forbidden relationships and being alone with a number
of women whom he injected with these drugs.

Third, accordingly, the physician Raoof Ala'rabi was arrested on
26/3/1428 H. Investigation with him resulted in accusing him with
committing the following crimes:

1- Participation in bringing quantities of the drug dormikom into the
kingdom for the purpose of selling them and conniving with those
doing so.

2- Selling 100 ampuls of the drug dormikom to the accused physician
Shawqi Abdraboh.

3- Buying 4 ampuls of the drug dormikom and selling them.

4- Injecting his sponsor's wife with the drug dormikom from the year
1423 H. to the year 1428 H.

Fourth: The medicines and materials referred to above are subject to
international control and considered as Narcotic drugs. These
medicines and materials have side effects on the central nervous,
cardio-vascular, digestive and respiratory systems.

Fifth: Referring Dr. Shawqi Abdraboh Ibrahim and Dr. Raoof Amin
Mohammad Ala'rabi to the District Court of Jeddah Province, the
religious sentence No. 693/7/T dated 04/11/1428AH was issued against
them where Shawqi Abdraboh Ibrahim received a 20-year prison
sentence, lashing and confiscation of money and materials used in the
crime; and Raoof Amin Mohammad Ala'rabi received a 15-year prison
sentence, lashing and confiscation of money and materials used in the
crime. This sentence became final and enforceable under articles
(213, 215) of the Criminal Procedure System.

--SPA