Photographer: OZAN KOSE / AFP via Getty Images
Photographer: OZAN KOSE / AFP via Getty Images
Saudi authorities said they had arrested seven businessmen and 12 bank employees for a plan to transfer 11.6 billion rials ($ 3.1 billion) of unknown origin abroad.
A statement by the kingdom’s anti-corruption authority published by the official Saudi news agency said officials had foiled a “gang” of foreign residents, bank workers and businessmen who were working together “to deposit cash from unknown source and take them outside the kingdom. . ” In addition to the businessmen and bank employees, the authorities detained a police officer and a number of other citizens and foreign residents.
The arrested men were charged with bribery, forgery, exploitation of their jobs for illegal financial gain, money laundering and other crimes, according to the statement. The statement did not state their names.
The announcement came on the same day the kingdom held its annual global investment summit, the Future Investment Initiative. The opening conference in 2017 was followed by a controversial anti-corruption campaign led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has pledged to eradicate the country, regardless of source. Saudi dissidents have accused him of using corruption allegations to undermine potential opponents and critics, a charge that officials have denied.
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