Saudi- Computer crimes reduced by 50

(MENAFN- Arab News) There has been a drop in the number and use of pornographic sites in the Kingdom over the last three years according to the Saudi Ministry of Justice.

The ministry said that the courts presided over 51 cases of pornographic issues compared to 100 cases just one year ago which is a decline of 50 percent a local publication reported. In the previous four months the courts have considered only 29 criminal cases.

In its new study released recently the ministry pointed out that the Riyadh Specialized Criminal Court recorded the highest number of pornography-related cases during the past three years with 76 instances.

The study said the court considered 11 cases for promoting or using pornographic websites compared to 18 such cases last year and 47 cases in 1434.

In related news a study released recently by Dr. Shaima Abdul Ghani an academic specializing in criminal law entitled "Rhe fight against cybercrime in Saudi Arabia according to the e-Crime system" bass explained that Article 6 of the Saudi Criminal Law stipulates that appropriate punishment for users of computers and the internet who act in violation of public decency laws should be subjected to imprisonment for up to 5 years along with a large fine if deemed necessary.

Interestingly the study conducted by Dr. Shaima explained that the Saudi system dealt equally with such offenders who establish negative websites as with drugs traffickers and takers. "The Saudi system regards equally those who prepare such materials such as programers and others who broadcast or promote them" she said.

The law also imposes similar strict punishments on a person who establishes a website dedicated to human trafficking pornography gambling and other acts breaching public decency including drug trafficking.

The statistics released recently by the Ministry of Justice regarding the drop in the number of cases involving pornography coincide with the discussion in the Shoura Council of a new bill draft which calls for the shaming and public defaming of cyber criminals under Article 6 of the cybercrime law.

The new draft bill raised controversy among the Shoura members for cybercrime offenders.

The study made it clear that Saudi legislator did not confine criminalizing the act of pornography to those involving children as is often the case in many the western legislations. Nonetheless Article 8 of the e-crime system stressed the importance of strengthening the punishment if children were exploited during the preparation and carrying out of such acts.