Saudi- Former drug peddler held for begging in Taif

(MENAFN- Arab News) JEDDAH: A man who had been earlier arrested on the charges of selling hashish has now been arrested for begging.
According to local media the man was begging near a mosque on Shafa road in Taif. He was rounded up by the anti-begging committee.
He had been arrested for with 30 kg of hashish while he was traveling from Jazan to Jeddah at a security check point near Mahayil Asir. He was later released on amnesty.
The suspect has now been referred to the competent bodies to follow up his case and consider his social circumstances. The committee earlier received a report that a man and two children were seeking financial help from worshippers after prayers about their condition and health while he was holding an oxygen cylinder.
Under interrogation the man revealed that he had previously been arrested three times for begging near mosques in Taif.
A court had sentenced him to eight years in prison for drug peddling and he served only 13 months before being released on amnesty in Muharam.
The man justified resorting to begging to stay away from selling hashish or committing other crimes. He said that he and his family of nine children live in a rented apartment in Al-Jamiaa neighborhood.
He said he prefers to beg in Taif away from the sights of his family members and neighbors in Jeddah although he is listed in the social insurance system and the rehabilitation program because he previously suffered a traffic accident which caused him partial paralysis.
Director of the Social Affairs Office in Makkah Abdullah Al-Tawi said that he will discuss the man's problems with the office for a follow-up action.