RIYADH: Two expatriates convicted of financial fraud have each been jailed for 15 years in Saudi Arabia and fined a total of SR1.5 million ($400,000). They were found guilty of 177 crimes from which they amassed more than SR22 million.

Investigations revealed the pair organized a fraud operation that targeted victims inside and outside the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. They established call centers in several regions across the country, from which they contacted victims while pretending to be government officials.

A search of their residence revealed tablets, SIM cards, two high-tech telecoms devices for making fraudulent calls, and a control device that managed the entire operation.

One of the individuals was fined SR1 million and the other SR500,000. The court also ordered that their ill-gotten gains be seized, and they be deported after completing their sentences. Officials from the Public Prosecution worked to trace the illicit funds and froze them so that the money can be returned to the victims.

The Public Prosecution said it remains committed to investigating such crimes and taking action against anyone found to be involved in them, as efforts to combat financial fraud are a top priority to help protect the assets of citizens and residents.

RIYADH: A project aiming to support and empower people with learning disabilities was launched in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, coinciding with World Dyslexia Day.

The initiative will address the challenges faced by those with dyslexia, and plans to equip their families, educators and healthcare professionals with additional tools to provide support.

“It is crucial to remember that 70 percent of history’s most groundbreaking inventions came from minds shaped by dyslexia,” said Mohammad Bahareth, the scheme’s supervisor, citing Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Nikola Tesla.

Dyslexia is initially diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. To receive additional support in the Kingdom, people need a medical report and disability certificate from authorities accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

People with dyslexia often have normal or above-average intelligence, and many are capable of performing well in school. One of the aims of the new program is to create a more inclusive and understanding environment.

Emotional support is believed to be crucial, with early assessment and intervention leading to the best outcomes. However, dyslexia is often not diagnosed until adulthood and there is also an overlap between dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which can cause difficulties with focus and impulsivity.

Bahareth said people with dyslexia often encountered difficulties due to the impact on their reading, writing and overall learning capabilities. He spoke about the magnocellular theory of dyslexia, which says the condition is caused by an abnormality in the cells responsible for transmitting information between the eye and the brain.

Studies have shown these cells are smaller in those with dyslexia than in people who are neurotypical. This causes incorrect transmission and frequency of read information, resulting in messages from the eye being misinterpreted by the brain.

Magnetic resonance imaging studies by scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany have identified abnormal brain activity in individuals with dyslexia, particularly in left brain regions that process language and visual neural signals.

Those with dyslexia can also experience associated difficulties, including physical balance issues. Another common challenge is distortion in the perception of time, while spatial disorientation can be another associated symptom.

People with dyslexia might struggle to recognize directions and have difficulty finding locations with using a map, while others face mathematical and numerical challenges.