MURDER IN HOSPITAL: STAFF FOUND NEGLIGENT

JEDDAH: A number of employees at Taif’s Psychiatric Hospital have been found negligent and will be punished over an incident in which a patient smuggled a knife into the facility and murdered a fellow inmate.

“Yes, I can confirm that some people are going to be held responsible,” said Siraj Al-Humaidan, official spokesman for Taif’s Health Department. “The findings and punishments of those responsible will be announced in two days,” he added.

The Health Ministry formed a committee to investigate the incident on Oct. 17 when a 31-year-old patient stabbed his 36-year-old cellmate. The man had smuggled in the murder weapon after a doctor gave him clearance to leave the hospital for a short time on an exit-and-entry pass on the grounds that his condition had “improved considerably.”

Following the murder, the hospital administration beefed up security and issued a ban on issuing exit-and-entry passes to patients, whatever maybe their state.

“The committee’s findings are currently being reviewed by the head of the city’s Health Department,” said Al- Humaidan.

The knifeman had previously murdered his father.

Maj. Turki Al-Shehri, official spokesman for Taif police, told Arab News in a previous interview that the police would take note of any negligence on the part of the hospital and its staff.

During questioning, the man admitted to stabbing the victim. “The suspect said he did not intend to kill his cellmate but wanted to hurt him,” said Al-Shehri.

According to the hospital staff, the two men had been involved in a dispute in Ramadan.


Samir Al-Saadi - Arab News