Billionaire Al-Waleed bin Talal, 10 Princes Arrested In Saudi Crackdown

Saudi Arabia in a sweeping crackdown arrested 11 princes, including a prominent billionaire, Al-Waleed bin Talal and dozens of current and former ministers.

Separately, the head of the Saudi National Guard, once a leading contender to the throne, as well as the navy chief and the economy minister were replaced in a series of high-profile sackings that sent shock waves in the kingdom.

The crackdown was reported immediately after a new anti-corruption commission, headed by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was established by royal decree late Saturday.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported that the princes, four current and dozens of former ministers were arrested as the commission launched a probe into old cases such as floods that devastated the Red Sea city of Jeddah in 2009.

State-run Saudi Press Agency said the commission’s goal was to “preserve public money, punish corrupt people and those who exploit their positions”.

There was no official confirmation yet that Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was among those arrested, Saudi news websites said. AFP reported that the Prince was unreachable on phone.

Saudi Arabia in a sweeping crackdown arrested 11 princes, including a prominent billionaire, Al-Waleed bin Talal and dozens of current and former ministers.

Separately, the head of the Saudi National Guard, once a leading contender to the throne, as well as the navy chief and the economy minister were replaced in a series of high-profile sackings that sent shock waves in the kingdom.

The crackdown was reported immediately after a new anti-corruption commission, headed by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was established by royal decree late Saturday.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported that the princes, four current and dozens of former ministers were arrested as the commission launched a probe into old cases such as floods that devastated the Red Sea city of Jeddah in 2009.

State-run Saudi Press Agency said the commission’s goal was to “preserve public money, punish corrupt people and those who exploit their positions”.

There was no official confirmation yet that Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was among those arrested, Saudi news websites said. AFP reported that the Prince was unreachable on phone.