PHOTO
Manama: Saudi Arabia’s Attorney-General Shaikh Saud Al Mojeb said the detainees in anti-corruption investigations have been questioned and that the authorities have collected “a lot of evidence”.
On Saturday, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz ordered the launch of a new anti-corruption drive in Saudi Arabia “as part of an active reform agenda aimed at tackling a persistent problem that has hindered development efforts in the kingdom in recent decades.”
Hours after its formation, around 50 people, including princes, former ministers and deputy ministers, and leading businessmen were held in a massive anti-graft sweep.
Al Mojeb said that investigations had been conducted in secret to ensure the safety of legal procedures and to guarantee there was no escape from justice.
He added that the arrests on Saturday were not the beginning and completed the first phase of the drive to combat corruption, Saudi daily Okaz reported on Tuesday.
The Attorney-General added that the investigations launched by the recently formed anti-corruption committee were part of the kingdom’s judicial duty to fight graft.
He said that the Saudi government implemented the measures in accordance with its laws and regulations in a manner commensurate with the nature of the crimes.
However, he denied there was special treatment or abuses.
“The suspects are given the same rights and treatment as any Saudi citizen and the position or status of the suspect does not affect the strict application of justice. During the investigation, all parties keep their full legal privileges relating to their personal and private property, including funds,” he said.
Al Mojeb added that there was an independent judicial process under way that would be fully respected.
“The establishment of the anti-corruption committee is an ongoing process of investigations, which must be ended with due diligence and in accordance with the law. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is part of a comprehensive reform process to ensure transparency, openness and good governance,” he said.
“The latest actions are the result of extensive consultations among the relevant bodies of the committee.”
The anti-corruption committee is headed by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and includes the presidents of the Control and Investigation Board, the National Anti-Corruption Commission; the General Auditing Bureau, and the Attorney-General at the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the head of the Presidency of State Security.
On Saturday, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz ordered the launch of a new anti-corruption drive in Saudi Arabia “as part of an active reform agenda aimed at tackling a persistent problem that has hindered development efforts in the kingdom in recent decades.”
Hours after its formation, around 50 people, including princes, former ministers and deputy ministers, and leading businessmen were held in a massive anti-graft sweep.
Al Mojeb said that investigations had been conducted in secret to ensure the safety of legal procedures and to guarantee there was no escape from justice.
He added that the arrests on Saturday were not the beginning and completed the first phase of the drive to combat corruption, Saudi daily Okaz reported on Tuesday.
The Attorney-General added that the investigations launched by the recently formed anti-corruption committee were part of the kingdom’s judicial duty to fight graft.
He said that the Saudi government implemented the measures in accordance with its laws and regulations in a manner commensurate with the nature of the crimes.
However, he denied there was special treatment or abuses.
“The suspects are given the same rights and treatment as any Saudi citizen and the position or status of the suspect does not affect the strict application of justice. During the investigation, all parties keep their full legal privileges relating to their personal and private property, including funds,” he said.
Al Mojeb added that there was an independent judicial process under way that would be fully respected.
“The establishment of the anti-corruption committee is an ongoing process of investigations, which must be ended with due diligence and in accordance with the law. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is part of a comprehensive reform process to ensure transparency, openness and good governance,” he said.
“The latest actions are the result of extensive consultations among the relevant bodies of the committee.”
The anti-corruption committee is headed by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and includes the presidents of the Control and Investigation Board, the National Anti-Corruption Commission; the General Auditing Bureau, and the Attorney-General at the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the head of the Presidency of State Security.
© Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2017. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
