Mecca crane crash: Saudi Supreme Court upholds SR 20 mill fine on construction company
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Riyadh: In a landmark case of compensation against negligence in construction, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia Court has ratified the rulings of a Makkah Criminal Court of Appeal issued in February against the Saudi Binladin Group and officials in the Makkah Grand Mosque crane crash case, local media reported.
The court fined the Saudi Binladin Group 20 million Saudi riyals (Rs 44.45 Crore) after finding it guilty of negligence and safety breaches in the tragedy, local media reported.
The court also sentenced eight directors, heads of departments, executives, and engineers to three years in prison and a fine.
The Criminal Court of Appeal in Makkah Al-Mukarramah had ruled that the company should not be required to pay blood money to the relatives of those killed in the accident.
The court acquitted three engineers and supervisors of the charges and suspended the trial of another defendant due to his death. It also recommended that some entities be subject to criminal liability due to their dereliction of duty.
According to the Arabic daily Okaz, the Supreme Court confirmed that the ruling had acquired the final character by rejecting the cassation request, and appended the ruling in the executive form, with the phrase “This ruling is final and obligatory.”
The Supreme Court’s final verdict comes almost eight years after the Haram crane crash.
On September 11, 2015, a crane collapsed in the Grand Mosque in Makkah during the Haj season due to strong winds and heavy rains, killing 110 people and injuring 209 others, including many foreigners, leaving “material damage” to the building of the Grand Mosque of Makkah.
The crane was set up by one one of the many construction companies as part of a multi-billion dollar expansion plan to accommodate the growing numbers of pilgrims.
