Saudi jailed for abetting prostitution

JEDDAH — The Criminal Court in Jeddah sentenced a Saudi citizen to five years in prison and a fine of SR3 million for offering massage service to married couples through Snapchat as well as providing private apartments for prostitution. The prosecution accused the man of violating the information law, Al-Watan newspaper reported. A judicial source said to Al-Watan that the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) received a tip-off on a Saudi who was promoting massage services as a cover to carry out immoral activities. The commission set up a sting and the man was arrested. The source said following intense questioning of the suspect, the prosecution prepared the list of charges against him. The case was then transferred to the Jeddah Criminal Court, where the judge confronted him with conclusive evidence against him. He initially denied the charges claiming that he had created the Snapchat account in good faith with a desire to obtain information on massaging tips and prices. But a number of Haia men gave testimony before the judge confirming the receipt of communication that proved his immoral acts. They said they had also found compromising photographs on his mobile devices. The accused then confessed that his aim was to bring married couples to a private apartment. The source said the man was convicted of preparing a place for prostitution, which is forbidden by law. He was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of SR3 million.