Manama: A Saudi court has sentenced three young men to spend time in jail and to be lashed for brandishing a gun in public.
Two defendants, including the son of a well-known businessman, were given 15 months in prison and 60 lashes, while the third was handed 24 months in jail and 50 lashes and was barred from leaving the country for two years afterwards, Saudi daily Okaz reported on Thursday.
The lashes will be given out over three times, including twice in front of the popular market in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
The three young men, who were not named by the daily were reportedly riding in a car when they brandished the gun before attempting to flee, driving opposite the flow of traffic and putting people’s lives at risk, the case documents said.
The defendants have challenged the verdict and wanted a re-trial. The judge refused to allow them to go home on bail pending the new trial.
Comments on the daily site praised the judge for his courage in pronouncing the verdict.
