Saudi Arabia corruption crackdown nets $130B from nation's elite

[Saif al-Arab]

SAUDI ARABIA
Detainees held at Saudi Arabia’s Ritz-Carlton released or moved, 56 remain in custody: Attorney General
ARAB NEWS | Published — Tuesday 30 January 2018

The Ritz Carlton in Riyadh (Reuters)

DUBAI: The Saudi Arabian Attorney General, Sheikh Saud Al-Mojeb, said on Tuesday that 56 corruption suspects remained in custody out of the 381 high profile figures detained on graft allegations.
He said he decided to release all those proven not guilty, as well as others who had agreed financial settlements with the government after admitting to corruption allegations.
Mojeb said the total settlements with the suspects had topped $130 billion, which came in various forms of assets.
News broke earlier on Tuesday that Saudi authorities had released all remaining detainees from Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which had been used as an interrogation center in a crackdown on corruption, according to a Saudi official.
“There are no longer any detainees left at the Ritz-Carlton,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity under briefing rules.
He did not say how many suspects remained in detention at other locations in Saudi Arabia. Some are believed to have been moved from the Ritz to prison after refusing to admit wrongdoing and reach financial settlements with the authorities.
He said those who remained in custody were still under investigation as the legal procedures continued.
Among top businessmen caught up in the purge were Prince Alwaleed, owner of global investor Kingdom Holding, and Waleed Al-Ibrahim, who controls influential regional broadcaster MBC.
MBC said the investigation found Ibrahim completely innocent of wrongdoing and Prince Alwaleed has insisted he is innocent, although Saudi officials said both men agreed to settlements after admitting unspecified “violations.”
In an interview with Reuters at his suite in the Ritz-Carlton hours before he was released on Saturday, Prince Alwaleed said he had been well-treated in custody and described his case as the result of a misunderstanding.
He showed off the comforts of his suite’s gold-accented private office, a dining room and a kitchen which was fully stocked with his preferred vegetarian meals.
The hotel has 492 guest rooms and suites and 52 acres (21 hectares) of landscaped gardens, according to its website. It has said it will reopen to the public in mid-February, with a nightly rate for its cheapest room of $650.
(With AFP and Reuters)

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1235891/saudi-arabia

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

130 Billion imagine what Pakistan can do with similar crack down

 

[Taimoor Khan]

This is the template Pakistan should have used long time ago rather wasting precious time. We will endup with more money. Get this political mafia sign cheques for state, rest can follow later.

 

[monitor]

SAUDI ARABIA
Detainees held at Saudi Arabia’s Ritz-Carlton released or moved, 56 remain in custody: Attorney General
ARAB NEWS | Published — Tuesday 30 January 2018

The Ritz Carlton in Riyadh (Reuters)

DUBAI: The Saudi Arabian Attorney General, Sheikh Saud Al-Mojeb, said on Tuesday that 56 corruption suspects remained in custody out of the 381 high profile figures detained on graft allegations.
He said he decided to release all those proven not guilty, as well as others who had agreed financial settlements with the government after admitting to corruption allegations.
Mojeb said the total settlements with the suspects had topped $130 billion, which came in various forms of assets.
News broke earlier on Tuesday that Saudi authorities had released all remaining detainees from Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which had been used as an interrogation center in a crackdown on corruption, according to a Saudi official.
“There are no longer any detainees left at the Ritz-Carlton,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity under briefing rules.
He did not say how many suspects remained in detention at other locations in Saudi Arabia. Some are believed to have been moved from the Ritz to prison after refusing to admit wrongdoing and reach financial settlements with the authorities.
He said those who remained in custody were still under investigation as the legal procedures continued.
Among top businessmen caught up in the purge were Prince Alwaleed, owner of global investor Kingdom Holding, and Waleed Al-Ibrahim, who controls influential regional broadcaster MBC.
MBC said the investigation found Ibrahim completely innocent of wrongdoing and Prince Alwaleed has insisted he is innocent, although Saudi officials said both men agreed to settlements after admitting unspecified “violations.”
In an interview with Reuters at his suite in the Ritz-Carlton hours before he was released on Saturday, Prince Alwaleed said he had been well-treated in custody and described his case as the result of a misunderstanding.
He showed off the comforts of his suite’s gold-accented private office, a dining room and a kitchen which was fully stocked with his preferred vegetarian meals.
The hotel has 492 guest rooms and suites and 52 acres (21 hectares) of landscaped gardens, according to its website. It has said it will reopen to the public in mid-February, with a nightly rate for its cheapest room of $650.
(With AFP and Reuters)

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1235891/saudi-arabia

What about the corruption,wrong doing by MBS himself or his close aid . If the anti corruption drive are not politically motivated then it good sign.

 

[Sh@msu]

130bil $$?when will our govt do that?

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I think may be the Saudi Leadership has a plan and would be nice to see them discuss things further with Pakistan in Large economic front

Saudia always have some issues with Iran but for Pakistan it is not really that much of issue

I think Saudi Crown prince has maintained great ties with Pakistan

Obviously he is bringing in some reforms in counrtry (his country)
a) Women driving
b) Women watching games in Stadium
c) Economic reforms

And that is the right of the Monarach for his people

The donation of 300-500 Billion was a bit extraordinary to Usa from Saudia but I am sure there was a reason behind it from Pakistan's prespect we care about developing good functional relations with Saudia who are our close Allies

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

New Crown Prince looks promising hopefully he will make a full Visit to Pakistan

He is modernizing Saudia and that is what alot of people wanted and is diversifying his country's economy in Trade makes sense

 

[Morpheus]

What about the corruption,wrong doing by MBS himself or his close aid . If the anti corruption drive are not politically motivated then it good sign.

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

The current philosophy adapted by the Saudi people regarding MBS.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

The current philosophy adapted by the Saudi people regarding MBS.

Sorry that the people of KSA are extremely positive in a time where one positive news follows the other and groundbreaking projects are announced one after one at a rate never seen before. Then you wonder why people are positive about MbS? Only ignorants, outright idiots or people that want to see KSA do badly, would not be happy.

Not even talking about the many positive economic, social, religious, political etc. reforms on numerous fronts.

So which one is it in your case?

Or maybe you want us to insult and be negative? That's not in the nature of Saudi Arabians. Let alone the current generation (almost 75% of the population is below 30 years of age).

Not everything is perfect (there is no such country on this planet) but I can assure you that Saudi Arabians have very few reasons to complain compared to the VAST MAJORITY of the population on this earth.

BTW whether we like MbS or what is going on in KSA nowadays (I can assure you that most do) is none of your business, I am afraid.

I think may be the Saudi Leadership has a plan and would be nice to see them discuss things further with Pakistan in Large economic front

Saudia always have some issues with Iran but for Pakistan it is not really that much of issue

I think Saudi Crown prince has maintained great ties with Pakistan

Obviously he is bringing in some reforms in counrtry (his country)
a) Women driving
b) Women watching games in Stadium
c) Economic reforms

And that is the right of the Monarach for his people

The donation of 300-500 Billion was a bit extraordinary to Usa from Saudia but I am sure there was a reason behind it from Pakistan's prespect we care about developing good functional relations with Saudia who are our close Allies

There is a misunderstanding here. The military deals signed with the US are worth 110 billion USD. Over the next 10 year they could raise to 350 billion USD at most. So 35 billion USD each year. The US is the primary exporter of military needs to KSA and KSA's military budget (yearly) is well over 80 billion USD. By 2030 KSA's goal is to be 50% self-sufficient when it comes to arms supply.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/us-...nearly-110-billion-as-trump-begins-visit.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_United_States–Saudi_Arabia_arms_deal

As for the rest of your post, I agree and KSA-Pakistan relations are very close (ever since the foundation of Pakistan in 1947) and historical ties between Arabia and Pakistan date back to at least 3000 BC. The ancient Sumer and Dilmun civilizations of Arabia had ties with the contemporary IVC.

Islam reached modern-day Pakistan by the hands of traders, explores, soldiers (Muhammad bin Qasim) and others from modern-day KSA 1300 years ago.

There is plenty of opportunity for cooperation today and in the near and distant future.

 

[Morpheus]

Or maybe you want us to insult and be negative? That's not in the nature of Saudi Arabians.

You see the irony in this statement. You insult people on this forum, more then the anyone, and you expect people to believe everything you say. First step to fixing anything is to admit you have a problem. Racism is huge in Saudi, and you have to accept it, in order to fix it.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/...e-racist-discrimination-against-expat-workers

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/524698/Opinion/OP-ED/Language-of-hate-against-expats

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/523333/Opinion/OP-ED/Shame-and-defame

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/vie...ot-racists-and-must-speak-out-against-it.html

https://news.efinancialcareers.com/...orst-region-racial-nationality-discrimination

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-Saudi...bs-towards-Indians-Pakistanis-and-Sri-Lankans

Fix the problem, don't ignore it (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil).

 

[Saif al-Arab]

You see the irony in this statement. You insult people on this forum, more then the anyone, and you expect people to believe everything you say. First step to fixing anything is to admit you have a problem. Racism is huge in Saudi, and you have to accept it, in order to fix it.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/...e-racist-discrimination-against-expat-workers

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/524698/Opinion/OP-ED/Language-of-hate-against-expats

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/523333/Opinion/OP-ED/Shame-and-defame

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/vie...ot-racists-and-must-speak-out-against-it.html

https://news.efinancialcareers.com/...orst-region-racial-nationality-discrimination

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-Saudi...bs-towards-Indians-Pakistanis-and-Sri-Lankans

Fix the problem, don't ignore it (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil).

Stop crying troll. I am replying in kind to insults and trolling. The only medicine that such people understand. I can argue my case (always) so I do not have any reason to "cry". However derailing informative threads on the peaceful and informative Arab section is annoying.

Not at all. KSA is one of the most cosmopolitan countries on the planet and between 1.5-2 million nationals are Afro-Arabs as well as KSA having one of the largest expat communities in the world from all corners of the world.

As for a hierarchy, that is only natural and hierarchies exist everywhere. That's a natural thing and a good thing too. A professor is not equal to a street sweeper and an expat is not equal to an Saudi Arabian in KSA just like an expat in the UK is not equal to an UK citizen. Democracy is nothing more than a hoax and the illusion of majority rule (of mostly dumb and uneducated people) who are fooled by an elite and given false promises during each election. I could personally not care less about it.

Meritocracy is the way forward and it is much easier to employ that in non-democratic states than democratic ones where every Tom and Dick has a vote despite millions of people in each society not even being able to deal with their own problems let alone that of the state. However they are entitled to have a say just because they exist. That was never the case before let alone in ancient Greece where democracy originates from.

Democracy should be kept far away from KSA and at best be destroyed all across the Arab world.

Democracy is slowly destroying Europe and the West (nowadays) and it is only going to be worse by each year.

As for expats and migrants, KSA does not owe them anything and did not promise them anything. They knew the rules and realities before they entered KSA. Stop thinking that we owe you anything. Just be happy that KSA choose to open up as there are plenty of fish in the ocean. Never mind, 2/3 of the expat population will be gone by 2030.

Nothing against expats personally (the good and useful ones) but just saying it like it is. The crying ones, I have very little patience and time for. You belong in that group, it seems.

 

[Fledgingwings]

He has done hell of a job.one I wish someone does the same way in pakistan to bring back the looted resources of the country by traitors and corrupt politicians.I wish and pray Allah helps the crown prince in leading KSA into right,prosperous and supportive direction.