Saudis arrest 122 in COVID-19 vaccine racket

Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s anti-graft watchdog said 122 people, including health officials and brokers, were arrested for bribery, forgery and money laundering after they were involved in a COVID-19 vaccine racket, local media reported.

The suspects, including nine officials of the Health Ministry, 21 brokers and 92 COVID-19 vaccine sceptics or hesitants, mostly Saudis, reportedly admitted to illegally changing the vaccination status on official applications, without the people taking the jab.

The conmen set up web pages to charge their victims between SR600 and SR1,000, claiming they could modify the vaccination status on official applications to “COVID-19 vaccinated” and obtain a health passport without the need to take the jab, bypassing the established procedures for vaccination.

The Saudi Control and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) confirmed that it was still tracking down those involved in the case, who will face the full force of law, as their actions adversely affect the efforts made to combat the pandemic.

Sources said the mobile phone numbers and bank accounts to which these swindlers request money be transferred belonged to non-Saudis. The conmen claimed they could obtain a health passport for those who have already received a first dose, and change the status to “vaccinated” on Sehhaty and “Tawakkalna” applications.