The Region - News from Nov. 22, 1985

The son of a powerful Saudi Arabian oil official failed to appear at an extradition hearing in Boston, where California authorities sought to have him returned to Santa Barbara so he could serve his 45-day jail sentence on a 1981 reckless-driving conviction. Tarek Abdulhadi Taher, 28, whose case had drawn the interest of unidentified U.S. State Department officials, jumped bail in California 3 1/2 years ago rather than serve his sentence. He was rearrested while trying to enter the country at Boston Oct. 23. A judge there allowed him to remain free on $100,000 bail, rather than the $5 million requested by Santa Barbara prosecutors. He forfeited the $100,000 when he failed to appear. Officials in Boston said they had information that Taher had fled to England.