NEWS: Son of Saudi Official Busted for Trading Child Porn

The 23 year old son of a high-ranking Saudi official has been arrested in Miami Beach for trading child porn on America Online. He is charged with 50 counts of sexual performance by a child and 50 counts of computer pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was responsible for tipping off the police. The young man, Mohammed Abdullah al-Garni, is in the country legally as a student.



I'm surprised we're not hearing more about this honestly, because of the connection to the Kingdom, and all the animosity directed towards them in recent years from the American public. Given the predictable public reaction, is it possible this incident was faked to make Americans even more upset at Saudi Arabia? Perhaps they have been on the list of countries to be liberated ever since 9/11? It's an interesting possibility anyway...

There has been no official comment from the Saudi royalty, nor from this boy's father. There was no mention of bond or bail in the article, and I've found no other information about this case anywhere else, so I'm going to assume he was ROR because of his pedigree.

Who wants to take bets that he skips the country and this is promptly forgotten? It would just reinforce the idea that you can do whatever you want if you're rich and powerful enough. The children of the wealthy get off all the time, for crimes that would see 'normal' people stuck in jail for decades. It's an unfortunate pattern that needs to be rectified if Justice is ever to be relied upon to fulfill its calling.

[edit on 30-4-2005 by WyrdeOne]

One call to Bush and he's out of the country faster than osama's family on 9?11.

This story has kept a very low profile on the national circuit. As far as I can tell, it appeared and dissapeared in the blink of an eye.

Is this evidence of favoritism in the media? Or is this an example of bogus charges targetting an unpopular ethnicity?

I don't have my mind made up, and there's nowhere near enough information to be sure of anything.

If he did indeed commit sex acts with a minor, and trade footage with other perverts online, shouldn't this be a big story? The fact that he's the Son of an important Saudi official should attract the media like sharks who smell blood.

So why is this issue hovering just above obscurity? Any thoughts?

Wouldnt this offence be punishable by death under Saudi law? If so, it will be interesting to see the outcome. Will he be punished or will favoritism be shown due to his status?

Interesting point Kidfinger...

I wonder if extradition is an option? I would sooner send him back to his own country to face the music, and let them deal with him in the harshest manner possible.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to get a fair trial in Saudi Arabia, so perhaps he should be tried here, then extradited for punishment?

Or would putting him on trial here sway the opinions of the system in his home country, and make them more likely to show leniency?

I'm not sure about the facts regarding this case...

We can only hope that if he's guilty, he will be punished.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's true , and i hope they kick his .. uh.. butt
however it might be a publicity thing , who knows ?

Diplomatic immunity laws will prevent him from ever being tried in this country or his homeland of Saudi Arabia. However, I wonder what would happen if we sent back him to our wahabbis friends with a note of what he did attached to him, if they would call him a hero, martyr or just a plain ole freak! 50 lashes for this scumbag!

He's not subject to diplomatic immunity. That priviledge is reserved for consular employees and their families, and visiting representatives of foreign governments.

It has no bearing on foreign college students who may be related to public officials in foreign countries.

That doesn't mean he won't get off, I'm just saying he's not officially entitled to any sort of immunity from prosecution.

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
He's not subject to diplomatic immunity. That priviledge is reserved for consular employees and their families, and visiting representatives of foreign governments.

It has no bearing on foreign college students who may be related to public officials in foreign countries.

That doesn't mean he won't get off, I'm just saying he's not officially entitled to any sort of immunity from prosecution.

Wyrdeone:
Thanks for that clarification, however methinks he will still get a "most favor nations" type of personal treatment and he will get off scott free. But then again... maybe not... seeing as Florida has had a surge in child deaths related to pedophiles of this type, maybe they will prosecute him indeed. Personally I'm all for the 50 lashes though!

Originally posted by cafeman
Personally I'm all for the 50 lashes though!

Personally, If this guy is guilty, 50 lashes just isnt enough. Im talking sever punishment. Stick him in a supermax prison butt naked with a tatoo across his forehead that proclaims he is a pedophile.

[edit on 5/1/05 by Kidfinger]

Interesting tidbit: A search with al-Garni and Miami Beach returns Animalsex.com...

Is that the strangest thing or what?

I'm not brave enough to click on the link, but I'm wondering if perhaps the 23 year old had other..passions, besides children? Or maybe the story was repeated on that site.

I don't know...

I feel dirty, in need of a shower. Excuse me.

Nice detective work Wyrdone, many Saudi offenses enjoy US journalistic immunity from the spotlight as they do with this administration and its supporters. To the jaundiced eye: possession of oil trumps character, misdeeds, patriotism, and most definitely careers. Further nepotism can eaily be discerned by who is investigated and who is allowed to investigate themselves. This applies within the upper echelons of our current system as well, for example in the quietly passed over case of Pentagon/DOD analyst John Miner who back in November was arrested for soliciting sex from a 14 year old girl via the internet. Seems Google inc. itself has been compromised, other international meta-search engines are the way to go.

www.ksat.com...