Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud has achieved significant power via several anti-corruption organizations. This is clear from Saudi Arabia’s recent announcement that, as part of its newest crackdown, 207 employees from about twelve legal ministries had been arrested.
It is unknown when these arrests occurred and what the names of individuals in custody are. The arrests were made public by Saudi Arabia’s “Nazaha,” or National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Beginning in 2017, the official prince’s anti-corruption crusade has helped him solidify his position of authority. Additionally, the monarchy has recovered benefits of $106 billion as a result of it.
The people of Saudi Arabia have long expressed worries about the pervasive corruption in the administration and the misappropriation or waste of public monies by individuals in positions of power.
As per the commission, the most recent wave of crackdowns involved the investigation of over 460 persons. As a result, 207 residents and inhabitants of Arabia have been placed under arrest on accusations of fraud, misuse of authority, and corruption.
The commission declared that the prosecution would receive the accused persons. They are from many departments, including the National Guard, Protector, Internal, Equity, and Well-Being.
Subsequently, the commission revealed that 176 individuals from the public department were being held for suspected wrongdoing.
Prince Mohammed Bin Turki Al-Saud started an anti-corruption campaign in Saudi Arabia. He targeted more than 300 members of the elite circle that surrounded the ruling Al Saud family and its vast networks of patronage, including princes, public officials, and businesses.
Some of the most powerful people in the nation were captured by the prince’s soldiers during this operation, and they were detained incommunicado for weeks or even months at the opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh. Following reports of physical abuse, some of them were moved to prisons or other detention centers.
The monarchy never formally verified the names of those jailed, but rumors circulated that billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Saudi construction tycoon Bakr Binladin were among them. Two additional senior officials have had their jobs terminated and been put on trial in the last year.
Lt. Gen. Fahad bin Turki, a prince who supervised Saudi activities in Yemen, and his son, Prince Fahad bin Turki, the deputy governor of Arabia’s Jouf region, are among these officials.
Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud: Saudi Princes Held in Detention for Anti-Corruption Investigations Released
The two sons of the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Princes Meshaal and Faisal, have been released from custody in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh.
This follows the release of several other prisoners involved in the nation’s ongoing anti-corruption effort. The two princes were freed, according to a top Saudi official, after negotiating financial agreements with the government; however, no specifics of these agreements were made public.
Prince Turki bin Abdullah is the third brother whose release is still up in the air according to the attorney general. A related royal family member named Princess Nouf bint Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud tweeted her appreciation along with pictures of the two princes.
As part of the anti-corruption campaign, about 200 princes, ministers, and corporate executives have been held in detention in the Ritz-Carlton since November.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s current action is thought to be an attempt to consolidate his power after his cousin was removed as the heir apparent.
The most powerful of King Abdullah’s sons, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was freed after giving the government $1 billion.
In the Saudi power system, he was the last notable representative of the Shammar family when Princes Turki and Meshaal lost their governorships in 2015.
A Saudi daily reports that 23 individuals have been freed following settlements with the authorities, and others who have not settled will face legal proceedings.
Ritz-Carlton Detention: Saudi Aristocracy Remains Under Crown Prince’s Authority
One of the affluent Saudis who remain in detention a year after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman converted the Ritz-Carlton hotel into a five-star jail for alleged corruption is Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud, a former prominent member of the Saudi royal family.
Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud was accused of graft in connection with the development of the Riyadh metro system; he has not been legally charged. In an interview, the crown prince stated that only eight individuals were still being held in custody; however, people with knowledge of the matter indicated that 45 detainees were still being held.
Human rights advocates think the prince might free more prisoners to lessen pressure from around the world in the wake of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Some people believe that Mohammed is using the detentions as a power maneuver to maintain his authority.
Domestic Issues
The late King Abdullah’s family seems to be the focus of the Crown Prince’s latest moves. The Salman and Abdullah branches of the royal family have long-standing animosities, as some analysts have noted, which is the root of their activities.
Although these conflicts have been simmering for a long time, Mohammed’s quick rise to prominence has made them more noticeable.
The Abdullah family member Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud has grown more concerned in recent times about Mohammed’s consolidation of power. An individual with deep ties to the royal family expressed alarm over Mohammed’s authority over an investigative unit within the Interior Ministry, which could be used for a variety of claims.
Apart from the imprisonment of Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud, he also issued an order for the apprehension of three additional sons of the deceased King Abdullah. One of them was 65-year-old Prince Muteib bin Abdullah, who had been the head of the National Guard before being relieved of his responsibilities.
Prince Faisal Abdullah, a former head of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and Prince Mishaal Abdullah, a former governor of the province of Mecca, were the other two sons who were jailed.
A person close to the royal family said that Qahtani had been in good health when he was first arrested, and these arrests came after they expressed their concerns about his unexpected death.
Considered as a Criminal: Saudi Princes
Several people have been reported to be detained by various media outlets; some of them are being imprisoned at the high-security al-Hair prison, which is situated south of Riyadh. Some are reportedly forced to wear ankle monitoring devices and are confined to private homes.
According to information gleaned from media reports and testimonies from friends, family, and those with close connections to the royal family, the people who are presently being held include
Forbes estimates that Mohammed Hussein al-Amoudi, a well-known Saudi-Ethiopian businessman, is worth $8.1 billion. Al-Amoudi is involved in a wide range of businesses, including an Ethiopian conglomerate that is involved in gold mining, farming, and building, as well as a Swedish oil refinery and Saudi gas stations.
Amr al-Dabbagh, the head of the Al-Dabbagh Group in Jiddah, is another prisoner. Before this, he was the head of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, one of the nation’s most important economic positions.
Sultan Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud: An Extended Break in the News Cycle
Reports state that Prince Turki bin Abdullah’s family, who is currently incarcerated, is making a concerted effort to find out more about his whereabouts and state of mind while he is being held by Crown Prince Muhammad Salman.
The extended family has maintained touch with members of the royal court and notable princes in an attempt to press Crown Prince Muhammad Salman to disclose Prince Turki’s whereabouts after his lengthy imprisonment.
Family members claim that due to Prince Turki’s illness, they were only able to see him sporadically over the year.
These sources claim that the family as a whole is currently confused about Prince Turki’s whereabouts and activities, which is adding to their level of unease and uncertainty.
These sources claim that King Salman and his son’s supposed reckless attempts to steal the royal family’s wealth deeply displeased and dissatisfied the late Saudi King’s dynasty.
On the orders of Prince Muhammad bin Salman, a Saudi security team took Prince Turki bin Abdullah, who is being held in a covert detention facility, to a medical facility.
Since Crown Prince Muhammad Salman’s widely reported prosecution operation, in which he was charged with corruption related to the creation of Riyadh’s metro network, Prince Turki has been arrested.
The chief of staff for the general, General Ali Al-Qahtani, was kidnapped and tragically died in captivity for unknown reasons.
After completing his studies at American Williams College, Prince Turki commanded the 92nd Squadron at King Abdulaziz Air Base, making him an excellent weapon in the conflict.
He is the ideal choice for the role of Air Force Fields Training Council since he has advanced credentials in military and intelligence fields from the United States, as well as certificates from Air Force programs in the United Kingdom and France.
At an estimated cost of $20 billion to $30 billion, Crown Prince Muhammad Salman attempted to embezzle money from the King Abdullah Organization, which Prince Turki oversees.
The Bottom Line
The anti-corruption force, headed by the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Turki Al-Saud, has completed its mission, according to a statement released by the royal court, marking the official end of the campaign.
The committee brought 381 witnesses to testify during its existence, exposing numerous cases of fraud. Nevertheless, 64 cases remained unresolved when the program was over.
Concerns about the current situation of the other 64 detainees are raised by the lack of information regarding their whereabouts and conditions of captivity. You can click this link to find out more about Mohammed bin Turki.