The Voice News: Saudi Arabia has launched a sweeping crackdown on corruption and abuse of power, resulting in the arrest of 120 government officials and employees.
According to a report published by Gulf News on Thursday (May 29), the arrests were carried out as part of an operation led by the country’s national anti-corruption authority, Nazaha.
The report stated that Nazaha interrogated 435 suspects this month, out of which 120 individuals were arrested on suspicion of corruption.
The arrested individuals include employees from the Ministries of Interior, Defense, Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Human Resources, Transport, and Health, as well as officials from the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority. They are under investigation for allegedly accepting bribes and abusing their positions.
Nazaha, also known as the Authority for Integrity, reiterated its commitment to monitoring, exposing, and prosecuting anyone involved in the misuse of public office. The agency emphasized its pledge to protect public funds and enhance transparency in both public and private sectors.
In recent years, hundreds of government employees and business figures in Saudi Arabia have been interrogated on suspicion of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
In January, local media reported that in 2024 alone, Saudi authorities arrested 1,708 individuals, including government employees, on charges related to corruption, money laundering, and influence peddling.
Additionally, during last year’s Hajj season, Nazaha conducted 9,600 inspections across the holy sites of Mecca and associated agencies. These operations led to the arrest of 155 individuals linked to corruption.
