Saudi Gazette report

Riyadh — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has approved specialized departments in the Public Prosecutor’s office to investigate cases of corruption and prosecute those involved in such cases, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The departments will be directly linked to the Attorney General.

Attorney General Sheikh Saud Bin Abdullah Al-Muajib said in a statement that the King’s approval for establishing these departments comes within the framework of his concern to combat corruption in all its forms with the aim of protecting the Kingdom and its resources.

The Attorney General said the King and the Crown Prince are keen to continue their fight against corruption and eradicate it. He said the Public Employment Crimes Department was dealing with corruption cases prior to the King’s approval.

In June 2017, King Salman issued a royal order changing the name of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution to Public Prosecution.

Last November, the King issued a royal decree forming a supreme committee headed by the Crown Prince to tackle corruption in public finance.

The Committee identifies offenses, crimes, persons and entities involved in cases of public corruption. It investigates, issues arrest warrants, imposes travel ban, discloses and freezes accounts and portfolios, tracks funds, assets and prevents their remittance or transfer by persons and entities.

The committee has the right to take any precautionary measures until they are referred to the investigating authorities or judicial bodies.

It may take whatever measures deemed necessary to deal with those involved in public corruption cases and take what it considers to be right.

A number of princes, ministers, and businessmen were arrested in November 2017 following the creation of the supreme anti-corruption committee.