10 Saudi princes arrested for corruption

According to Al Arabiya television, Saudi Arabia's newly established anti-corruption committee has detained 10 princes, many former ministers and four current ministers for investigation.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman heads the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Photo: Saudi press agency

The new committee, led by young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was established by the Saudi king on November 4 to "fight" corruption.

The committee includes the Chairman of the Supervisory and Investigation Commission, the Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Agency, the Minister of Audit, Justice and Security.

Previously, Saudi Arabia fired several senior ministers, including two ministers of Economy and Planning.

This drastic change comes just a few months after King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud decided to change the heir (in June this year). Accordingly, his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will be crown prince instead of his nephew, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as before.

In his decision to set up the committee, the Saudi king called corrupt people "weak souls who put personal interests above the common good," according to the Saudi state news agency.

The Commission will have the power to call for coordination when necessary to issue arrest warrants, travel bans, disclose and freeze accounts and investment portfolios, track investment funds, assets and prevent the receipt of remittances or transfers between individuals and organizations...

The Commission has the power to take necessary preventive measures until the case is transferred to the prosecution and law enforcement agencies. The Commission has the power to apply necessary measures to recover assets in order to return the embezzled money to the budget...

Economic analyst Ian Blac commented that since Mohammed bin Salman became crown prince, "we have seen a lot of groundbreaking changes. This demonstrates the ambition to transform the country's economy according to Vision 2030".

According to Tuoi Tre