Ashwaq Al-Tuwairqi
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
MAKKAH — The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution released the bus driver, who was held for questioning for the incident of the death of the school student Nawaf Al-Silmy.
A source from the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution said the bus driver of a private school was detained for the death of the student Nawaf Al-Silmy.
“Al-Silmy was found dead in the school bus at the end of the school day.
The school administration and the bus driver were called for questioning following the incident. After thorough investigation, the bus driver was released after medical reports revealed the cause of death and proved that the driver was innocent of any suspected murder attempt,” said the source.
The source also said the medical reports revealed that the student died of natural causes and that there was no trace of foreign bodies in the body, eliminating all suspicion of homicide.
Legal consultant Bandar Al-Salamah said the family of the deceased victim feel that the driver is responsible for the incident because he should have checked the bus after all of the students left it.
“The driver gave his testimony stating that he had done his job in checking the bus after all of the students got off to go to their classes. The driver said he did not see Nawaf because of the position he was sleeping in,” said Al-Salamah.
He added the school administration also did its job in informing the parents of the victim that he was absent.
“The school has a protocol to follow when a student is absent. The school sends a text message to the parents of the student when he is absent. The school followed its protocol and the father of the victim did receive a message of the absence of his son but the father did not react to the message,” said Al-Salamah.
He also said Jeddah Education Directorate has since put in place new regulations for the hiring of school bus drivers.
“The incident made the directorate look into the procedures already in place in hiring bus drivers and checking for students’ safety. The investigation on the incident is still ongoing and the school may be facing monetary penalties,” said Al-Salamah.
