By Hussain Hazzazi
JEDDAH — Prince Mishal Bin Majed, governor of Jeddah, has ordered the reopening of streets occupied by a well-known businessman 35 years ago to establish a shopping complex. He also ordered closure of shops in the complex in the north of the city within a week.
The story began in December 2015 when the Jeddah mayoralty launched an investigation into the businessman’s alleged occupation of public land, which was used for parking vehicles and as a playground, informed sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.
Investors in shops informed the authorities that the complex was established on public land when the businessman increased their rents.
They told the mayoralty that the man occupied the area, which was used as a parking place, about 30 years ago.
After the governor issued his decision, the mayoralty served notices to shop owners to vacate. “We have the right to impose the maximum punishment on shops that violate the governor’s order,” the mayoralty said in a notice circulated to the shops.
The mayoralty confirmed that the businessman had encroached on public land after it verified maps and deeds of plots in the area. Investors had lodged complaints to the Jeddah governorate, the Civil Defense, the mayoralty, the Human Rights Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission against the businessman.
“We have been following up this complaint for more than one year. A number of committees have been formed and a number of resolutions have been taken but nothing had happened on the ground,” said one shop owner. He said the businessman occupied two streets, parking areas and a playground to build the shopping complex.
“The shop owners blew the whistle and exposed the businessman when he increased their rents,” the source said.
Okaz/Saudi Gazette received a report issued by the Civil Defense, which had made a number of observations on the complex regarding its poor safety conditions. The shops were having a single floor or two floors in accordance with their business needs.
The Civil Defense noticed that the complex received license in stages and the department had not approved its safety conditions as its exit and entry points were not clear and it was also difficult to bring firefighters to the complex in case a fire breaks out.
The complex lacked firefighting systems and its electric wiring was not done properly. The department had insisted on removing the complex for violating regulations.
It had asked the owner to present a report from the engineering consultancy office to prove that the building and its electric systems were safe and that the shops were separated to prevent possible fires.
