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Saudi FM says part of nation’s budget was being stolen
11-15-2017
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s Monetary Agency said the detentions, which are ostensibly aimed at ending corruption, would not affect businesses associated with those arrested.
Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, launched on Saturday a purge of his rivals within the royal family and the country’s business elite.
Jubeir said “the crown prince has made it very clear that no prince and no minister and no high-ranking official is immune from corruption charges.
“The public prosecutor started an investigation two and a half years ago and unearthed a large number of cases of individuals who are involved in corruption and the decision was made to bring these people in for questioning and to confront them with the evidence and to deal with this issue in a very resolute manner”.
Jubeir went on to say: “A sizeable percentage of our budget we discovered was being stolen and this cannot stand. Where you have corruption, you cannot have justice, you cannot have investment, you cannot have efficient and transparent government.
“I believe that the international community will be very, very pleased that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not only transparent, not only firm, but has actually taken decisive action against individuals who robbed public goods.
“And the reason the names have not been announced is that, under our legal system, we don’t publicise names until after the verdicts are out. … this is a hugely important step for Saudi Arabia.
“Now foreign investors can come into Saudi Arabia and compete on an equal footing with everybody else.”
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