The First Circuit of the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has ordered a retrial, invalidating all previous decisions related to the 2015 crane collapse incident.
According to a report by Arab News, the incident occurred on December 11, 2015, before the Hajj season, when a crane used for the construction of the Grand Mosque suddenly collapsed, killing 110 people and injuring 209 while the mosque collapsed. The Haram building was also damaged.
The Supreme Court has ordered a new judicial circuit to review the case. This decision has been informed to the Appellate Court defendants and other competent authorities.
The order also included the reversal of an acquittal issued by the Court of Appeal a year ago.
The case will be remanded to a new judicial circuit where new judges will review it.
Jurist Dr. Bin Abdulaziz Al-Mahmood says, "The decision confirms the independence of the judiciary and also that it will be supervised by the higher judicial authorities represented in the Supreme Court."
He also said that this authority is not a decision-making court, but a complaint body against the court that issued the decision.
According to Al-Mahmoud, "It will look at the decision in terms of the application and interpretation of legal and regulatory provisions while also reviewing the procedure of the case."
He told Arab News, "The Supreme Court noted some important legal deficiencies in the judgment, which were regarding the criminal article 181, while those facing charges of negligence were not thoroughly investigated."
According to him, if they are found responsible according to Article 19 of the Criminal Code, they will be held accountable.
It should be noted that after the tragedy, King Salman ordered to distribute one million Saudi Riyals to the families of the deceased, while five million Riyals were released for the injured.
However, the Royal Decree issued at the time also stated that this compensation would not prevent a court claim being filed for a personal right.
