Saudi graft suspects opt for settlements to avoid trial

The individuals detained as part of Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption probe have started to make payments to settle the cases in exchange for their freedom, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed people with knowledge of the matter.

Some businessmen and officials among those detained at the Ritz-Carlton are signing agreements with authorities to transfer a portion of their assets to avoid trial, the people said. Some have started to transfer funds from personal accounts to government-controlled accounts, they added.

Saudi Arabia is looking to recover at least $100 billion from settlement agreements with the suspects, foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir told an Egyptian news channel earlier this week.

The detainees have been given the choice of settling the amounts, or being referred to the judiciary for legal action, Al-Jubeir added.