A flooded neighborhood is shown in this file photo of the January 2011 deluge in Jeddah.

The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution has referred the case of a government official accused of corruption in the Jeddah floods to the Administrative Court in Jeddah following interrogation, sources told the local media.

The accused who is a prominent government official was questioned following the opening of investigations relating to the floods that hit Jeddah a few years ago, the sources said. The lawsuit includes charges of bribery, abuse of position and other violations related to administrative corruption.

The sources pointed out that the court will begin the trial of the accused on to the indictment in the coming weeks.

The public prosecution has included sufficient evidence in the file to respond during the sessions which will be held later.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals in Makkah is looking into the cases of a number of other people accused in the flood disaster. Among them are government officials, firms and businessmen accused of bribery and abuse of position.

The court is looking into the prison sentences and fines imposed on the accused by the Administrative Court to reach a final verdict.

During the hearings, the defendants denied all charges.

Meanwhile, charges of bribery, forgery and abuse of position are still being discussed in Makkah and the Administrative Court in Jeddah to deliver a final decision.

The defendant already faces charges of a list of crimes including forgery, abuse of position, tampering with laws and regulations, squandering public funds, causing human losses, damage to public properties and wasting more than SR100 million of the state’s funds.

The prosecution has demanded the harshest punishment for the defendants because their actions violated government orders and regulations and resulted in the death of more than 100 people and injuries to 350.

The prosecution charges against the accused included allowing citizens to build homes on the course of the water stream, which was in violation of a royal decree that strictly prohibited citizens from build homes on land located in valleys.