Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — A Saudi citizen who was convicted of burning his friend alive was executed in Jeddah on Thursday, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

A Saudi court had found Barakat bin Jibreel Al-Kinani guilty of killing Bandar bin Taha Al-Qarhadi and sentenced him to death in January, six weeks after the gruesome murder at a parking lot in Jeddah.

The heinous crime shook people across Saudi Arabia after a video of the brutal killing went viral on social media.

Al-Qarhadi, a 40-year-old flight attendant with Saudi Arabian Airlines and father of two, was burned alive in his car.

Al-Kinani chained his handcuffed friend to the steering wheel, doused him with gasoline, and set him on fire.

According to media reports at the time, Al-Qarhadi had stopped his car on the side of the road in an attempt to settle a longstanding dispute with Al-Kinani. They had a heated argument before the latter found himself chained to the steering wheel of his car.

Al-Qarhadi was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to serious burn injuries.

Taha Al-Qarhadi, the victim's father, told Okaz that the murder took place in the parking lot at the Southern Housing Project in Jeddah.

He said the perpetrator had accompanied his son and slept in his house in the Al-Sanabel neighborhood the night before the brutal killing.

Earlier, speaking to local media, Taha Al-Qarhadi said: “Bandar was known for his kindness... He had been working with Saudi Arabian Airlines for 20 years, and he was known for nothing but his kindness and good manners.”

The security authorities arrested the perpetrator in a short time and charged him with murder, arson, and drug abuse after investigations. The man was also accused of burning four cars that were parked in the area.

He was referred to the competent court for trial. The court noted that the defendant failed to help the victim when he screamed for help, a fact that clearly showed his deep-rooted criminal mentality, the Ministry of Interior said in its statement.

The death sentence, issued by the court was upheld by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Eventually, a royal order was issued to enforce the verdict.

The Interior Ministry statement said the murderer was a drug addict and a quantity of methamphetamine was seized from him.

According to the ministry, Al-Kinani committed the heinous crime as he was befuddled after consuming the narcotic substance.

The ministry reiterated that the state would not show any leniency in the application of the provisions of the Shariah against people who commit such brutal crimes.