An Egyptian was buried in Saudi Arabia after his former sponsor refused to let his body out of the country, Egyptian consul in Jeddah Adel al-Alfy told Mehwar channel Monday.
The family of Ali Desouki had given the sponsor a power of attorney to finish procedures at the Egyptian consulate; hence his authorization to bury the Egyptian national, Alfy said.
Desouki died while he was doing his job as a carpenter, but with the power of attorney the sponsor “bargained” with the family to evade paying compensation and insurance, Alfy added.
The consul emphasized legal procedures would be taken against the sponsor, as he “deliberately delayed the burial” to avoid compensation, according to Alfy. The family authorized the Egyptian diplomats to bury Desouki.
Desouki’s brother, Hussein, told Mehwar the sponsor requested a waiver from the family after they had given him a burial authorization so he allows the release of the body.
Desouki, 39, was killed when a wall fell on him at work, and his body had been in a hospital in Mecca since March 20, his brother said.
The Saudi sponsorship system entitles business owners to hold the passports of foreign workers as long as they work for them. The individual sponsor has the authority to renew the residency of each labor, and often the sponsors withhold the passports of laborers in cases of disputes.
