JEDDAH: A Saudi Panel Court has exempted a Filipino driver, a schizophrenia patient, from death sentence for recklessly driving and killing four people, said a local media report.
The incident of the Filipino driver Rino, who has killed four people in a road accident, reportedly took place eight years ago.
“The Penal Court reported the incident took place at dawn when Rino woke up and walked out of his room at the Saudi Airline’s worker’s residence in Al-Khaldiyah District north of Jeddah. He had in his hand a hammer and a screw driver and stalked angrily towards a worker in the parking lot,” Saudi Gazette quoted a source as saying.
The source also reportedly said he smashed the windows of a worker’s car and then took over a bus with the capacity for 50 seats.
“The engine of the bus was on and there were 12 workers in it. He snatched the passengers’ cellphones and yelled at them to remain seated. He then drove the bus down King Abdulaziz Road in top speed and without conforming to the direction of the road,” the source was quoted as saying.
The driver reportedly went past Sari Street, Al-Nid Street, Prince Naif Road and Hiraa Street as he drove for 15 km.
“Three of the passengers on the bus jumped out of the window to save their lives but one of them died. The other two suffered severe injuries. Rino continued driving ignoring all traffic lights and passing the airport checkpoint,” the source was quoted as saying.
The source also said Rino crashed into many vehicles and killed a young man, his mother and sister.
“The public attorney demanded the death sentence for the Filipino driver as his murder was intentional and by his own will. The General Court had sentenced Rino to death at the time of the investigation of the case,” the source was quoted as saying.
The Court of Appeals repealed the sentence and the Supreme Court will be looking into the case again.
The Judicial Committee stated the incident was one of the most abhorrent ones resulting in the incidental murder of Saad Al-Qarni, Aidhah Al-Amry, Almah Al-Amry and Waheed Mayat.
The initial sentence on Rino was paying SR250,000 in compensation for damages and death sentence for murder, reported Saudi Gazette.
Photo Credit: Saudi Gazette
