Saudi officer sentenced to prison, lashes

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 9 (UPI) -- A Saudi court sentenced a police officer to three months in prison and 60 lashes for abusing his post, reports said Monday.

Saudi daily al-Medina said the officer, a major, was accused of arresting a Saudi national on false charges and for personal reasons.

"The officer who works in the area of Baha in southern Saudi Arabia arrested a compatriot and imprisoned him in the police station after a personal dispute," the daily reported.

It said the wronged person lodged a complaint against the officer and an ensuing investigation proved charges the officer made to arrest his the victim were false.