Saudi Gazette report

Riyadh — At least 95 suspects who refused financial settlements will be referred to the Public Prosecution as the Saudi anti-corruption campaign has come to an end, officials announced on Wednesday.

An infographic issued and tweeted by the Public Prosecution gave details of the results of the campaign which was launched in the last quarter of 2017.

Most detainees have agreed on settlements and 90 people have been released after charges were dropped. Settlements included cash, real estate and other assets.

A Total 95 people are still detained.

During the 80 days of the corruption probe, the Kingdom’s newly-formed Supreme Anti-Corruption Committee summoned 350 suspects, including those who had been accused of corruption, witnesses and those with relevant information.

The public prosecutor said that no violations were made against the detainees, who had access to legal representation.

“Those who were released are free to move without restrictions,” he added.

“Our country has suffered a lot from corruption from the 1980s until today. The calculation of our experts is that roughly 10 percent of all government spending was siphoned off by corruption each year, from the top levels to the bottom.

“Over the years the government launched more than one ‘war on corruption’ and they all failed. Why? Because they all started from the bottom up,” said Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, in an interview with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman in November.

The Crown Prince also heads the anti-corruption committee that was formed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

The committee has carried out arrests, investigations and negotiations.