Manama: The final phase in Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on corruption in high places, involving princes, senior government officials and businessmen, is expected to begin soon. It will include those who failed to reach a settlement with the committee and will consequently be referred to courts of justice, Saudi daily Okaz reported on Sunday, citing sources it did not identify.
The first phase of the crackdown was launched in November following a series of probes and the formation of an anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
It included negotiations with suspects to reach out-of-court settlements over alleged financial irregularities.
Those who were found innocent, or reached agreements with the committee, were allowed to leave the Ritz Carlton hotel in the capital Riyadh, where around 300 suspects had been detained.
“The order to keep any detainee in custody or to release him is the prerogative of the investigators. Those who will be kept will be referred to the courts under specific charges,” the sources said. “The public prosecution is the authority that charges or withholds charges and it has the right to summon any new suspects or witnesses. The prosecution investigates the suspects and levels the charges. The suspects will face a very normal and ordinary trial by the criminal court.”
Two courts deal with such cases, one in Riyadh and the other in Jeddah, and there will be no exceptional trial, the sources added.
“Each court looking into cases of corruption is made up of three judges.”
Last week, Saudi attorney-general Saud Al Mojeb said that 90 suspects have been released after they reached settlements with the committee. Less than 100 remaining detainees and will be referred to the prosecution unless they reach a deal that allows them to go home.
On Saturday, prominent businessman Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal was released. The Ritz Carlton is expected to be cleared of the detainees by the end of this month and will open to guests on February 25.
