Saudi Gazette report

HAIL — The administration court in Hail Sunday started trying 35 officials from the city’s Ministry of Education branch in connection with charges of accepting bribes, embezzling funds and misusing their power.



Local press reported Monday that in addition to senior Saudi officials at the ministry, Saudi and foreign contractors and engineers have also been charged.



Twelve of the accused stood before the court Sunday.



The court session started with the attorney general reading out the charges against each of the defendants, who all denied the charges against them.



The court asked journalists present at the hearing not to publish the names or pictures of the accused.



The Prosecutions and Investigation Bureau has been investigating the case for two years before finally submitting it to the court with the list of charges against every defendant.



The defendants denied the confessions they made before the PIB and said they were extracted from them under coercion.