Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — A total of 65 people — citizens and expatriates — have been arrested for their alleged involvement in corruption, Saudi Arabia’s anti-graft authority has said.

In a statement, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) said that the accused included 48 officials and employees of the ministries of defense, interior, justice, municipal and rural affairs and housing, education, and environment, water and agriculture; the Presidency of State Security; the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection.

The charges framed against them included bribery, abuse of power and forgery.

They were arrested during as many as 460 inspection raids carried out by the Nazaha teams during the current month.

The arrest of the suspects was made after carrying out investigations into the alleged role of 411 people.

Nazaha said that the legal procedures are being completed prior to referring them to courts.

The commission called on everyone to report, in the event of noticing any suspicious activities involving financial or administrative corruption, through contacting the toll free number 980 or website www.nazaha.gov.sa or email 980 @ nazaha.gov.sa or fax: 0114420057.