Saudi imam arrested for burglary: report
Saudi authorities arrested an imam - Islamic preacher - who is suspected of carrying out several burglaries, a press report said on Tuesday.
"The Saudi man is suspected to have been involved in burgling several shops and engaging in some other illegal activities," a local police source told Arab News.
Authorities refused to name the imam from a mosque in the western city of Baha, pending an investigation, the English-language daily reported. But the paper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the man was a 33-year-old Saudi who also worked as a teacher in a local school.
Nasser Badran, the director of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for Baha province confirmed the imam's arrest and vowed to take the necessary action.
"If the allegations against [the imam] are proved ... appropriate action would be taken," Badran told Arab News. Depending on the severity of the crime, punishment could range from a cut in the imam's monthly salary to jail time, Arab News said.
An imam that leads Friday prayers usually earns about 3,000 Saudi riyals (800 dollars) per month. Imams that do not lead Friday prayers earn roughly half of that amount.
The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Propagation and Guidance interviews all imams in the kingdom and conducts periodic inspection and assessments, the paper said.