Saudi Arabia detains princes, billionairs, inc. al-Amoudi, freezes assets

(Compiled from Alarby reports)

Saudi Arabia has detained 11 princes and 38 other businessmen, senior military officials and top officials.

It was an unprecedented move for the kingdom which analysts have interpreted as an attempt by the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate power in the kingdom, which will allow him to push through historic reform.

Reports suggested those detained were being held at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, which only days earlier hosted a major investment conference with global business titans from the US, Japan and other countries.

A Saudi official told The Associated Pressthat other five-star hotels across the capital were also being used to hold some of those arrested.

Marriott International said in a statement that it is currently evaluating the situation at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. “As a matter of guest privacy, we do not discuss the guests or groups with whom we do business or may be visitors of the hotel,” the statement added.

Saudi Arabia has announced that the bank accounts of dozens of high-profile figures arrested in an anti-corruption sweep will be frozen, as part of new measures in a sweeping purge of the kingdom’s upper ranks on Saturday and Sunday

“The accounts and balances of those detained will be revealed and frozen. Any asset or property related to these cases of corruption will be registered as state property,” the kingdom’s information ministry said on Sunday.