Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent

WASHINGTON, 3 March 2004 — From the theater of the absurd, we now bring you the following:

Essam Muhammad Al-Mohandis, 33, the Saudi national and biomedical engineer from Riyadh recently acquitted of federal charges for carrying three small sparklers on a flight from Germany to Boston, was arrested eight hours after his Friday afternoon acquittal, the Boston Globe reported yesterday.

Federal officers arrested him for not having a valid visa.

Essam did not have a current visa because when federal officers arrested him on Jan. 3 at Boston Airport after they found the three sparklers in backpack, they revoked his visa.

Essam had flown to Boston for a training seminar on how to use DNA equipment purchased by the Riyadh hospital that employs him.

After he was acquitted Friday, Essam commended the US justice system and hugged his prosecutor. But following his latest arrest, it was clear his patience had worn thin. Essam said when the authorities arrested him, they would not let him call anyone to help his wife, who does not speak English.

The Globe newspaper spoke to customs spokeswoman Janet Rapaport who insisted Essam had the opportunity to speak with is wife and explain what was happening, before he returned to jail.

She said Customs officers determined that he needed to be taken into custody and sent home immediately after his acquittal.

Essam’s lawyer, Miriam Conrad, said it was difficult to understand why Customs hadn’t arrested him in the courthouse, immediately following his acquittal, if they thought he needed to be taken back into custody.

“I certainly hope it wasn’t vindictive on the part of Customs,” she told the Globe.

Essam said prosecutor US Attorney Gregory Moffatt collected his wallet and credit cards and brought them to him in jail, along with a personal apology.

The good news? Following this absurd ordeal, Essam is now safely back home in Riyadh.