Report: Saudi court revokes Pinoy driver's death sentence


A Filipino driver sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia may now get a new lease on life after an appeals court revoked his death sentence, a Saudi news site reported Sunday.

The Makkah Court of Appeal revoked the death sentence earlier handed down by the General Court of Jeddah, according to a report on Arab News.

Court records showed the Filipino driver had caused a traffic accident that killed a Saudi family, while driving in the wrong direction on Haramain Road.

At the time, he allegedly intended to commit suicide, and had already run the red light at seven crossings.

Investigation also showed he took over the bus – which he and 15 colleagues boarded to perform dawn prayers at the mosque of their work facility – with an intent to commit suicide.

Two of his colleagues jumped out of the bus but were badly injured.

The report quoted Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Qahtani as saying the Filipino had confessed having a dispute with his employer for failing his driving test twice.

But investigation also showed he had other problems, including differences with his fiance, emotional shock and mental illness. — LBG, GMA News

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