A personal status court in Riyadh found a man guilty of negligence and forced him to pay SR3 million in unpaid alimony to his abandoned wife, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.

A source said the man in question had abandoned his wife after she gave birth to their first child in 1983.

“The husband has not supported his wife and son financially since 1983. His wife approached the court seeking financial compensation from her husband for all the years he neglected her and their son. The wife brought two witnesses to testify that her husband had abandoned her and never supported her or their son financially,” said the source.

The source said the court looked into the man’s monthly income to ensure that he was financially able to provide for his wife and son.

“The court found out that the man earns SR80,000 a month. The judge ruled in favor of the wife and forced the man to pay SR3 million as compensation for the past 32 years of his abandonment. The man is obliged to pay a total of SR1.53 million to the woman at a rate of SR4,000 for each month of neglect. The man will also pay a total of SR1.34 million to his son,” said the source.

In addition, the man was asked to pay double the monthly rate for each Eid his wife and son spent without his support.

This article first appeared in the Saudi Gazette on June 16, 2016.

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:48 - GMT 06:48