Saudi jailed for battering wife

Rania's injuries have caused global outcry (picture: Arab News)

A Saudi man who severely beat his TV presenter wife has been sentenced to six months in prison and 300 lashes, a Saudi newspaper reports.

The judgement by a Jeddah court against Mohammed al-Fallatta came on Saturday, the Arab News said.

A lawyer for Rania al-Baz described it as relatively lenient.

Mrs al-Baz suffered 13 facial fractures and agreed to let papers print images of her injuries to raise awareness of a problem affecting the whole kingdom.

Her lawyer, Omar al-Khouli, said the sentence included time already spent in custody since al-Fallatta's surrender to the police on 19 April, leaving four-and-a-half months to complete.

Earlier, an attempted murder charge against al-Fallatta was dropped.

Seeking divorce

Mrs al-Baz accused her husband of first trying to strangle her until she became unconscious, and then smashing her face.

Doctors said she was lucky to survive her horrific injuries.

Mrs al-Baz, who is seeking divorce and custody of her two boys, said she did not want to comment on the sentence.

Her lawyer said a private claim would likely follow the public case.

Under Sharia law, if Mrs al-Baz insists on compensation for her suffering, her husband could either be ordered to pay damages or be given a beating of equal severity to the one he inflicted on his wife, the newspaper said.