Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday the arrest of dozens of nationals and residents over corruption charges, in the latest series of crackdowns on corruption in the Kingdom.
The Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) said it has arrested 65 Saudis and residents, while 411 were still under investigation, for crimes of fraud, bribery and other.
Nazaha noted that among the arrested were 48 government employees in a number of ministries, municipalities and judicial bodies for their involvement in bribery, abuse of office and power, and fraud.
In a statement, the Authority said the accused included officials and employees of the ministries of defense, interior, justice, municipal and rural affairs and housing, education, and environment, water and agriculture, the Presidency of State Security, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection.
The arrest charges include bribery, abuse of influence and power, as well as fraud and forgery, the statement said, noting that 460 inspection raids were carried out by the Nazaha teams over the current month.
The arrest of the suspects was made after carrying out investigations into the alleged involvement of 411 people, Nazaha stressed, adding that the legal procedures were being completed prior to referring the detainees to the competent courts.
