RIYADH, Feb 19 (Arab News) : A Saudi youth was sentenced to five years imprisonment and 1,500 lashes for armed robbery in the capital, the Riyadh police announced here Friday.

The general court in Riyadh delivered the judgement.

The police arrested the convict on a complaint made by an expatriate worker in the Aziziyah district of Riyadh.

According to the plaintiff, the incident occurred when he was traveling in a limousine. The plaintiff was stopped by the criminal and was robbed of his purse and mobile phone.

Subsequently, the thief demanded the car keys from the limousine driver. When the diver refused, the robber stabbed the driver and fled the scene.

The victims — the plaintiff and the cab driver — immediately contacted Aziziyah police, which in turn, apprehended the thief following radio message given to all the checkpoints in the city.

The police said that they were able to track the culprit since the details given by the plaintiff were accurate.

The police advised the public to inform police immediately of such incidents and also requested the public to exercise more care while dealing with strangers.