Court upholds jail verdict against sex braggart

A clerk had been charged and convicted of offensive behaviour under the strict shariah Islamic laws of the conservative Saudi kingdom.

RIYADH, February 9, 2010 (AFP) - A Saudi appeals court upheld a verdict against an airline sales clerk sentenced to five years in prison and 1,000 lashes for boasting on a television programme about his sexual exploits, media reports said on Tuesday.

The Jeddah court confirmed an October 7 verdict against Mazen Abdul Jawad, who landed in hot water after appearing on a programme called "Bold Red Line," the Okaz daily said.

He had been charged and convicted of offensive behaviour under the strict shariah Islamic laws of the conservative Saudi kingdom.

During his July television appearance on the Beirut-based Lebanese Broadcasting Corp (LBC) programme, Abdul Jawad boasted about picking up women, having sex and using sexual aids.

The show outraged Saudi conservatives, who pressed authorities to take action against Abdul Jawad and others involved in the show.

Three friends of Abdul Jawad who appeared on air with him received two-year prison terms and 300 lashes each.

Abdul Jawad's lawyer, Sulaiman al-Jimaie, had argued the case was marred by numerous procedural errors.

Charges brought against three production crew, including two women, were later dropped after the intervention of Saudi King Abdullah.

Jimaie also objected that the owners and managers of LBC, which is owned by Saudi tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Rotana group, were not charged or convicted of wrongdoing.

LBC later axed the show, and in December Rotana head, Nezar Nagro, told AFP that the programme "was a mistake."