Saudi prosecutor begins probe in corruption cases; detainees to face money laundering, terrorism charges

Riyadh, April 9: The authorities of Saudi Arabia has begun investigations in the corruption cases which involved 11 princes, 4 ministers and a number of former government ministers who were arrested late last year. 

 

The deputy attorney general for investigations Saud al-Hamad on Sunday said that whoever is charged will be referred to court for prosecution in cases related to money laundering or terrorism. Hamad said some of those under investigation had failed to respect confidential agreements while others committed further, unspecified, offences.

The investigation agencies arrested dozens of corruption suspects in November on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s orders, with many confined and interrogated at Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton Hotel. However, most of them were released after being exonerated or reaching financial settlements with the government. But 56 people who had not reached settlements remained in custody and will face trial.

BACKGROUND:

The authorities arrested 11 princes, 4 ministers and a number of former government ministers as it was re-examining the 2009 Jeddah floods and investigating the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Saudi Arabia freed those individuals who agreed to pay settlement amount. The authorities of Saudi Arabia have so far recovered more than $107 billion from kingdom's most prominent businessmen and government officials who were arrested in a crackdown into alleged corruption.