Judge orders Makkah crane crash defendants to attend session

A judge, who is looking into the deadly 2015 crane crash in the Saudi city of Makkah, has ordered all five of the case’s defendants to attend the upcoming session.

Judge Abdulaziz al-Twairqi said if the defendants did not attend, they will be brought to the court by force, according to the Saudi website, Ajel.

The order came after the defendants failed to attend court sessions and were merely represented by their lawyers.

Among those who missed the session is a businessman, who once received a permission from the relevant authorities to travel outside the country for medical treatment, according to the website. The permission stipulated that he must appear again before court.

The upcoming session is scheduled to take its place on Thursday.