Saudi & Expatriates Face Penalties for Transporting Illegal Pilgrims

Jawazat (Passport Directorate) issued 18 administrative decisions with penalties on Saudis and expatriates who were found guilty of transporting pilgrims without a Haj permit.

The penalties includes jail term for specific period, fines, deportation of expatriates to their home country, seizure of vehicles on their names, and mentioning names of the violators in newspapers.

Jawazat has taken severe measures against 17 people who were involved in the act. All of them will be sentenced to 15 days in prison. Also, the fines range between SR20,000 and SR140,000. All the expatriates will be deported after serving the jail term and payment of fines as per the report from Saudi Press Agency

Meanwhile, the Jeddah branch of the General Car Syndicate said in a statement that its agencies have sent back more than 472,000 illegal pilgrims who tried to enter the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah through various entry points in Jeddah governorate.