Saudi Arabia fires two royals over corruption

RIYADH

Saudi Arabia has sacked two members of the royal family in connection with corruption at the Defense Ministry, according to the official SPA news agency.

A royal decree relieved Prince Fahd bin Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from his position as the commander of the joint forces in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, and his son Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd from his position as the deputy governor of Al-Jawf province.

The two, along with four officials at the Defense Ministry, were referred to investigation into suspected financial transactions at the ministry.

SPA said the decision came upon orders from an anti-corruption committee formed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In 2017, bin Salman ordered the arrest of scores of royals, ministers and businessmen in an anti-corruption campaign and held them in the Ritz-Carlton hotel for alleged corruption. Most of them were later released after reaching unspecified financial settlements with the authorities.