$100 Billion Embezzlement; Saudi Prosecutor's Office Has Interrogated 207 Individuals

The Attorney General of Saudi Arabia stated on Thursday, November 9, that 208 individuals have been interrogated in connection with anti-corruption investigations in the country, with seven of them released. According to Reuters, Sheikh Saud al-Muajab said in a statement that 'based on three years of investigations, it is estimated that at least $100 billion has been systematically embezzled over the past few decades.' He reiterated, like other senior Saudi officials, that the recent arrests in the country will not affect business activities, and only the personal accounts of a number of Saudi citizens have been frozen in banks, but this action has not been taken against companies. The Attorney General added that companies and banks are free to continue their activities. Dozens of members of the Saudi government, officials, and business managers were suddenly arrested last Saturday by order of the Anti-Corruption Committee. These arrests occurred just hours after the committee was formed by King Salman of Saudi Arabia. According to informed sources, the Anti-Corruption Committee has also frozen the accounts of Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the ousted Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. This summer, King Salman replaced Mohammed bin Nayef with his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as Crown Prince. The Anti-Corruption Committee in Saudi Arabia has announced that it will confiscate and seize the money and assets of wrongdoers. In this regard, Reuters reported on Wednesday, November 8, that the number of individuals targeted by the Anti-Corruption Committee is expected to reach hundreds. The New York Times reported that nearly 500 individuals have been arrested, most of whom are being held in the 'most luxurious prison in the world,' the Ritz-Carlton hotel located in the diplomatic area of Riyadh. Reuters also cited Saudi banking sources stating that the number of frozen accounts in Saudi domestic banks has exceeded 1,700 as of Wednesday, up from 1,200 accounts reported on Tuesday, November 7. The news agency quoted an official from the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry saying that if assets are seized, the total amount could reach $800 billion. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department announced on Thursday, November 9, that Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, discussed the situation in Saudi Arabia with his Saudi counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir. According to Reuters, this discussion followed the arrest of dozens of individuals in Saudi Arabia under the guise of fighting financial corruption. In the meantime, Human Rights Watch criticized the mass arrests in Saudi Arabia on charges of financial corruption and called on the government to provide information about the legal and judicial basis for these arrests. According to the German news agency, Human Rights Watch stated that these widespread arrests are more indicative of 'power plays within' than a movement that 'Saudi media' portray as a fight against corruption.