Saudi Purge: Prince Mutaib Freed After $1Bn Corruption Settlement

Local Editor

Senior Saudi Arabian prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to the throne, has been freed after agreeing to pay over $1 billion (£745 million) to settle corruption allegations against him, a Saudi official said on Wednesday.

Prince Mutaib, 65, the son of former King Abdullah, and former head of the elite National Guard, was among dozens of royal family members, high officials and senior businessmen rounded up this month in a crackdown on graft that has strengthened the power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The official, who is involved in the crackdown and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Prince Mutaib was released on Tuesday after reaching "an acceptable settlement agreement". The official said he believed the agreed sum to be the equivalent of over $1 billion.

"It is understood that the settlement included admitting corruption involving known cases," the official said, without giving details.

According to the official, Prince Mutaib was accused of embezzlement, hiring ghost employees and awarding contracts to his own firms, including a deal for walkie-talkies and bulletproof military gear.

Prince Mutaib is the first senior figure known to be released among those detained. Around 200 people in total have been questioned in the crackdown, authorities said earlier this month.

The allegations, which include kickbacks, inflating government contracts, extortion and bribery, could not be independently verified.

Saudi authorities, who estimate they could eventually recover around $100 billion of illicit funds, have been working on reaching agreements with suspects detained at Riyadh's luxurious Ritz Carlton hotel, asking them to hand over assets and cash in return for their freedom.

Apart from Prince Mutaib, the Saudi official said that at least three other suspects had finalized settlement agreements and that the public prosecutor had decided to release several individuals.

The prosecutor has decided to put at least five people on trial, the official said without disclosing their identities.

The fate of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of investment firm Kingdom Holding and one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent international businessmen, was not known.

Kingdom issued a statement earlier this month saying it was continuing to operate normally but has not responded to queries about his status since he was detained early this month.

Two Saudi sources told Reuters that Prince Alwaleed has so far refused to reach a settlement and had asked for access to his lawyer in order to fight allegations against him.

Relatives, his lawyer and officials in his office could not be contacted to comment.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team