Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, 38 ministers in corruption probe

Saudi Arabia has arrested 11 princes including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, as well as 38 former and current ministers, in a sweeping crackdown against corruption.

The arrests came after the Kingdom on Saturday announced the formation of a new anti-corruption committee, to be headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The princes and ministers arrested are as follows:

- Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, businessman and chairman of Tadawul-listed Kingdom Holding

- Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, former head of National Guard

- Prince Turki bin Abdullah, former governor of Riyadh

- Prince Turki bin Nasser, former head of the presidency of meteorology and environment

- Prince Fahad bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, former deputy defense minister

- Khaled Al Tuwaijry, former chief of the royal court

- Mohammed al-Tobaishi , former head of royal protocol

- Amr Al-Dabbagh, former minister of investment

- Saud Al Duwaish, former CEO of Saudi Telecom

- Saleh Kamel and sons, businessman

- Waleed Al Ibrahim, chairman of Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC)

- Adel Faqih, Minister of Economy and Planning 

- Ibrahim Al Assaf, former finance minister

- Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed, Naval Forces commander

- Khalid Almolhem, former director general at Saudi Arabian Airlines

- Bakr bin Laden, chairman of Saudi Binladin Group

- Mohammed Al Amoudi, businessman

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Saturday announced a cabinet shakeup, under which Mohammed al-Tuwaijri will replace Adel Fakieh as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, and Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Ayaf will replace Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz as Minister of National Guard.

The King has also ordered Lieutenant General Abdullah al-Sultan, commander of the naval forces, to step down. He will be replaced by General Fahad al-Ghufaily.