This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42161552

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Saudi Arabia detentions: Prince Miteb bin Abdullah released Saudi anti-corruption drive: Prince Miteb freed 'after $1bn deal'
(about 11 hours later)
Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah has been released more than three weeks after he was detained on allegations of corruption, officials say. Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah has been released more than three weeks after he was detained on allegations of corruption, officials have said.
Prince Miteb, once seen as a contender to the throne, was freed after agreeing an "acceptable settlement" with authorities of more than $1bn (£750m).Prince Miteb, once seen as a contender to the throne, was freed after agreeing an "acceptable settlement" with authorities of more than $1bn (£750m).
He is one of more than 200 political and business figures detained in anti-corruption raids on 4 November. He was one of more than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen detained in an anti-corruption drive on 4 November.
Three other people have also reached settlements with the Saudi government. At least three others have also agreed settlements, the officials said.
"Yes, Prince Miteb was released this morning [Tuesday]," a source close to the government told the Agence France-Presse news agency."Yes, Prince Miteb was released this morning [Tuesday]," a source close to the government told the Agence France-Presse news agency.
Prince Miteb, who is the cousin of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and headed Saudi Arabia's elite National Guard, was the most politically influential royal detained in the corruption crackdown. The prince has so far not commented, and it was not clear whether he was now able to move freely or whether he was under some form of house arrest.
The 64-year-old son of the late King Abdullah was sacked shortly before his detention. The 65-year-old son of the late King Abdullah was the most politically influential royal detained under the orders of a newly formed anti-corruption committee headed by his 32-year-old cousin, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Princes, ministers and top businessmen were arrested at the beginning of the month and detained in a luxury hotel, accused of corruption. Prince Miteb was minister of the National Guard, an elite security force with 100,000 personnel that is tasked with protecting royal leaders, but was sacked hours before his detention.
Authorities grounded their private aircraft and their assets were seized. An official involved in the investigation told Reuters news agency the settlement agreed by the prince "included admitting corruption involving known cases".
Corruption is rampant in Saudi Arabia with bribes, sweeteners and lavish kickbacks having long been an integral part of doing business in the world's richest oil-producing nation. The authorities have not publicly named any of the 208 people who Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said had been "called in for questioning".
The crown prince - backed by his father, the 81-year-old King Salman - has made no secret of his belief that the country needs reform and has focused his attention on some of the richest men in Arabia. They have also not released any details of the charges they faced, and are not believed to have given them access to their lawyers.
Many ordinary Saudis have welcomed the move to tackle corruption with the hope that some of their nation's wealth will be redistributed to the general population. Prince Miteb was reportedly held at the five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh along with his brother Prince Turki bin Abdullah, a former governor of Riyadh province; the billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal; Alwalid al-Ibrahim, owner of the TV network MBC; Amr al-Dabbagh, former head of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority; and Khalid al-Tuwaijri, former chief of the Royal Court.
In an interview with the New York Times published on Thursday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said 95% of those so far detained in the anti-corruption drive had agreed to hand over cash or shares to the Saudi state once "we show them all the files that we have".
"About one per cent are able to prove they are clean and their case is dropped right there," he added. "About four per cent say they are not corrupt and with their lawyers want to go to court.
Prince Mohammed also said it was "ludicrous" that analysts had suggested the campaign was a power grab. He noted that many of those detained had publicly pledged allegiance to him when his 81-year-old father, King Salman, named him first-in-line to the throne in June.
The prince hopes to recover much of the $100bn that the attorney general said was "misused through systematic corruption and embezzlement over several decades".
Many ordinary Saudis have welcomed the move to tackle corruption with the hope that some of their nation's oil wealth will be redistributed to the general population.