Cairo: Four Saudi citizens have been arrested and referred to prosecution for violating a curfew in place against the new coronavirus, as the country battles to stem the potentially fatal disease, Saudi media reported Monday.
The four documented their violations in video clips circulated on social media, police said.
Three of the offenders were arrested in the capital Riyadh after they had appeared in a video “purposefully” driving in a car during the curfew and boasting about the act, the city’s police said.
The fourth, in his 30s, was arrested in the holy city of Medina after his appearance in an online video dangerously driving a car and practicing risky tricks on the road during the curfew.
Violating the curfew in Saudi Arabia is punishable by a fine of 10,000 riyals that doubles in case of repetition. The repeat offender also faces a maximum 20 days in jail.
The kingdom plans to enforce a 24-hour nationwide curfew next week for five days starting from Ramadan 30 in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Infections in the country have reached 54,752 cases, including 312 deaths from COVID-19.
