Saudi students vanishing after charges

[Chris0nllyn]

The Oregonian/OregonLive has found criminal cases involving at least five Saudi nationals who vanished before they faced trial or completed their jail sentence in Oregon. They include two accused rapists, a pair of suspected hit-and-run drivers and one man with child porn on his computer.

- All were young men studying at a public college or university in Oregon with assistance from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the time of their arrest.

- In four of the cases, the Saudi government stepped in to help, posting large sums of money for bail and possibly underwriting legal fees.

- Three surrendered their passports.

- All disappeared while facing charges or jail time.

- The same Oregon defense attorney, Ginger Mooney, was hired to represent the four most recent suspects.

- Little is known of the whereabouts of the five, though some have been traced back to Saudi Arabia.

Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah

Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Marshals Service told The Oregonian/OregonLive last month they now believe he left his Southeast Portland neighborhood in a black SUV and later used an illicit passport and private plane — likely provided by the Saudi government — to flee the country.

This past July, more than 13 months after Noorah disappeared, the Saudis contacted Homeland Security to inform the agency he was back in their country.

Abdulaziz Al Duways

Police arrested Al Duways and he was arraigned on multiple felony counts, including first-degree rape. His bail was set at $500,000, records show.

On Dec. 29, Ahmed Alzahrani, of the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles, posted $50,000 for Al Duways’ release from jail, records show. In Oregon, defendants must post 10 percent of the set bail for release.

Waleed Ali Alharthi

He was booked in the Benton County Jail on 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sex abuse Aug. 7, records show. A judge set his bail at $500,000.

Faisal Alsudairy, then with the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles, signed the $50,000 security deposited for Alharthi’s bail, records show.

An investigator hired by the Benton County District Attorney’s Office later learned from Transportation Security Administration officials that Alharthi had boarded a plane in Mexico City bound for Paris a week earlier, court records show.

Suliman Ali Algwaiz

His college-age sister, also studying in Portland, deposited $31,260 into his inmate account so he could bail himself out, records show.

Then he disappeared. A warrant for his arrest was issued. It remains outstanding.

Eight months later, Noorah was gone, too.

Ali Hussain Alhamoud

Federal court records in Oregon show the Saudi government bailed out Alhamoud from the Lincoln County Jail after he was indicted on multiple sex crime charges, including first-degree rape.

He boarded a plane in Portland the same day he was released from jail and returned to Saudi Arabia, according to a criminal complaint.

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/201...ts-vanishing-while-facing-oregon-charges.html

 

[stgislander]

I think Gurps beat you to it.

http://forums.somd.com/threads/336815-Is-Saudi-Arabia-Helping-Citizens-Flee-Crimes-in-US

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I think Gurps beat you to it.

http://forums.somd.com/threads/336815-Is-Saudi-Arabia-Helping-Citizens-Flee-Crimes-in-US

Sure did. Thanks.

 

[Monello]

A couple of solutions. Don't let any future saudi students/alleged criminals out on bail. Or make the bail a few million dollars.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

A couple of solutions. Don't let any future saudi students/alleged criminals out on bail. Or make the bail a few million dollars.

Oregon in particular (where all this happened) cannot deny bail unless it's a murder or treason case. Bail also can't be unreasonably high.

 

[Monello]

Bail also can't be unreasonably high.

If an oil rich nation is putting up the bail $, a couple of million isn't unreasonable. JMO

 

[Chris0nllyn]

If an oil rich nation is putting up the bail $, a couple of million isn't unreasonable. JMO

I agree, but Oregon judges (or any US judge) isn't going to assume Sauid Arabia is going to put up bail for the person in their court room.

It's a strange occurance and sort of surprised they keep that much of an eye on kids they send off to college.

 

[glhs837]

I agree, but Oregon judges (or any US judge) isn't going to assume Sauid Arabia is going to put up bail for the person in their court room.

It's a strange occurance and sort of surprised they keep that much of an eye on kids they send off to college.

Maybe not all the kids, wonder what happens if you look up those family names...........

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Oregon in particular (where all this happened) cannot deny bail unless it's a murder or treason case. Bail also can't be unreasonably high.

That applies to US citizens, I maintain that foreign citizens do not enjoy the same constitutional protections as citizens do.

 

[TCROW]

That applies to US citizens, I maintain that foreign citizens do not enjoy the same constitutional protections as citizens do.

Not exactly. There are serious constitutional issues if it is assumed one of these Saudi nationals is a flight risk solely based on their nationality and you apply it to all Saudis or all foreign nationals.

 

[glhs837]

Not exactly. There are serious constitutional issues if it is assumed one of these Saudi nationals is a flight risk solely based on their nationality and you apply it to all Saudis or all foreign nationals.

Then it's simple math. X number of total Saud nationals arrested for felonies minus the ones who dont get whisked back home will give you a number to base these things on.