Sorcerer accused of withcraft saved from gallows

A Lebanese expatiate accused of practicing witchcraft was saved from death when the supreme court in Saudi Arabia overturned a death sentence issued by another court, the Arabic language Ajel newspaper said on Thursday.

Ali Hassan Sabat, 46, was sentenced to death by a court in the western town of Madina after he was convicted of deception through witchcraft two years ago.

But the supreme court in the city later overturned that verdict and decided to refer the case to a three-man tribunal, recommending that the defendant should get a commuted sentence before he is deported from the Gulf Kingdom.

Sabat, who hit headlines in the Kingdom as the “Sorcerer of Shahrazad” two years ago, pleaded guilty in court but asked for mercy.

“The supreme court decided that the death sentence is not suitable on the grounds his actions have not caused physical damage to any one and he has not been involved in crime before," the papaer said.

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