Saudi pardons detainees arrested during anti-corruption drive

Saudi Arabia’s Attorney General has reportedly granted most of those detained during anti-corruption drive pardon in exchange for settlements with the authorities reports say.

According to reports, 320 people have been called in for questioning while 159 are currently being detained while those who denied the allegations or refused settlements face prosecution.

Prominent figures, including princes, ministers and businessmen, were taken into custody last month.

Read also: SAUDI ARABIA: 11 princes, 4 ministers,others, docked for corruption

11 princes, four sitting ministers and dozens of former ministers were among those detained on corruption charges hours after the new anti-corruption committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was formed by royal decree.

The arrests were made after fresh investigations were launched into the 2009 Jeddah floods and the outbreak of the Mers virus which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 even as those detained were not named.

Sources say the arrests were made as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to consolidate his growing power while spearheading a reform programme and while addressing an economic conference in Riyadh, he vowed to “eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon”.

 

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