RIYADH, KOMPAS.com – Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption authorities arrested at least 241 people, including employees of several ministries, on suspicion of involvement in corruption.
In a statement, the Anti-Corruption and Monitoring Authority (Nazaha) said the defendants included officials from the ministries of interior, health, urban, rural and housing, education, and human resources and social development, customs, and distribution.
The charges against the suspects included bribery, abuse of power and forgery.
Also read: Middle East Heat, Saudi Arabia-US Holds Joint Military Exercises
They were arrested during 263 interrogation raids carried out by the Nazaha team over the past month.
“The arrests of the suspects, both citizens and expats, was carried out after investigating the alleged role of 757 people, “said Nazaha, launching Al Jazeera on Monday (15/3/2021).
According to Nazaha, legal procedures are being completed before referring them to court.
In recent years, the authorities have been cracking down corruption in Saudi Arabia as one of the largest economies in the Arab world.
Also read: The US is silent on the sentence of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in the Khashoggi murder
Last January, 32 people were arrested after an investigation into the illegal transfer of US $ 3.1 billion (Rp.44.6 trillion) abroad.
According to Nazaha, bank employees at the Saudi Central Bank have reportedly received bribes from an organized group of expats and businessmen. They are asked to accept deposits from unknown sources and then transfer the money abroad.
Also read: Saudi Arabia attacked by Houthi-armed drones, 10 successfully intercepted
– .
