New Saudi anti-corruption commission to focus on government employees
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The new head of Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption commission said he plans to go after graft by ordinary government employees, following a high-profile campaign two years ago that netted princes, ministers and top businessmen.
Mazen Al Khamous said he had been directed to focus on ending bureaucratic corruption in the country and follow up with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a monthly basis.
“After the country largely rid itself of the big heads of corruption, I convey a stern warning from the crown prince, who instructed me that the coming period will be to eradicate corruption among mid- and low-level public servants,” Mr Al Kamous told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV.
The Kingdom began a sweeping corruption crackdown in 2017, where authorities rounded up dozens of people on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s orders, with more than 300 held at Riyadh’s opulent Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Most of them, including global investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, were released after being exonerated or reaching financial settlements with the government.
More than 100 billion dollars were recovered through settlements with dozens of officials.
