Saudi Arabia nabs expats over illegals’ money transfers

Cairo: Saudi police said they had arrested four Yemeni residents in the capital Riyadh for transferring money of illegal expatriates in violation of the kingdom’s rules.

The suspects, in their 30s and 40s, had committed the crime of collecting money from violators of residency and border security systems and transferring them outside the kingdom, spokesman for the Riyadh police Khalid Al Karidis added.

Some SR548,270 was seized in the suspects’ possession, according to the official.

“They were arrested and referred to public prosecution,” he added in media remarks.

Earlier this month, Saudi authorities said they had rounded up 16,638 illegal migrants in one week as part of a sustained clampdown on foreign violators of the kingdom’s residency, labour and border security laws.

The Saudi Interior Ministry has repeatedly warned that those who facilitate the entry of infiltrators into the kingdom or provide them with transportation, shelter or any sort of assistance face penalties of a maximum of 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to SR1 million, as well as confiscation of the transport and the accommodation means, in addition to naming to shame them.