Saudi Arabia uncovers 18 major corruption cases involving doctors, police officers and officials

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) has uncovered a series of major corruption cases implicating government employees, law enforcement officers, and private sector figures, as part of its ongoing campaign to uphold transparency and accountability.

In a statement issued Monday, Nazaha revealed it had initiated 18 new cases of financial and administrative misconduct.

The operations, carried out in coordination with various ministries and security agencies, have led to multiple arrests and the launch of legal proceedings.

Among the more serious violations, a resident doctor at a government hospital was suspended for allegedly issuing fake sick leave reports and other fraudulent medical documents in exchange for bribes — a case uncovered in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Two customs officials at a sea port were arrested after accepting SR400,000 in bribes from a customs clearance agent to illegally facilitate the import of trucks. In a separate incident, a land port employee used an official customs vehicle to steal seized contraband, including cartons of cigarettes.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, Nazaha also arrested a non-commissioned police officer and a municipal employee for accepting SR110,000 from business owners in exchange for unauthorized access to scrap metal from demolished government buildings. That metal was later sold for more than SR4.6 million.

A senior police officer was suspended for allegedly accepting bribes to influence ongoing investigations. In another case, a military employee and a foreign national were arrested for extorting a company staff member and seizing SAR 707,000.

Nazaha reported the arrest of a judicial clerk, caught receiving part of a SAR 65,000 bribe in exchange for promising a not-guilty verdict. A municipal licensing director was also found to have canceled business violations after receiving unexplained financial transfers totaling over SR7 million.

Other violations included a King Fahd Causeway employee diverting SR55,000 in toll fees, a port inspector accepting a bribe from a ship captain, and a Ministry of Commerce staffer bribed to suppress a ruling on commercial fraud.

In the healthcare sector, a procurement director at a regional health cluster offered a SAR 100,000 bribe to manipulate tender results. In a separate case, a medical supply official solicited SAR 380,000 from a healthcare company to secure supply contracts.

Nazaha emphasized that its efforts reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to eradicating corruption and enforcing integrity at all levels of public service. The authority reaffirmed that no individual or institution is above the law, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for transparency and good governance.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE