S. Arabia Launches Legal Action Against Officials in Sweeping Anti-Graft Arrests

Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) has announced the arrest of several government employees across multiple regions as part of its ongoing campaign against corruption.

 

The Nazaha spokesman said that legal measures were taken against the suspects following detailed investigations into a series of financial and administrative violations.

 

Among those arrested was an employee of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, accused of accepting SR1.6 million in exchange for illegally granting a crusher licence to a company owned by a foreign investor.

 

In another case, a Saudi citizen was apprehended after receiving SR85,000 -- part of an agreed SR110,000 bribe -- to cancel a demolition order on agricultural land lacking proper documentation. Two municipal employees involved in halting the demolition in exchange for payments were also detained.

 

Nazaha also arrested a municipal employee accused of taking SR195,000 to award a tender unlawfully, and the director of a water desalination plant who received SR35,000 to overlook violations by a contracting firm.

 

An employee at a regional secretariat was caught receiving SR30,000 from an agreed SR240,000 bribe to facilitate the illegal disbursement of SR8.3 million in dues to a commercial entity.

 

Other arrests included:

 

• A Civil Defense officer accused of accepting SR10,430 for issuing a permit to a commercial establishment.
• A hospital employee charged with embezzling SR12,000 from a catering company.
• A Ministry of Defense officer accused of taking money from female citizens in exchange for fake job promises.
• An emirate employee detained for accepting a bribe to facilitate marriage procedures illegally.
• An Enforcement Court employee accused of accepting payment to remove a citizen’s name from a service suspension list.

 

Additionally, an employee at the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority was arrested at an airport after customs-related irregularities were uncovered, while another at a governorate secretariat allegedly obtained free travel tickets for himself and his family.

 

A market supervisor was detained for seizing money and tobacco products without legal justification, while a Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development employee was arrested for taking bribes to overlook violations.

 

Nazaha also detained a Ministry of Health employee who allegedly accepted money to help someone obtain a professional licence without sitting for the required exam. Similarly, a Ministry of Hajj and Umrah employee was arrested for taking money to prevent the cancellation of a hotel permit, and a Saudi Electricity Company worker for illegally supplying power to a site in exchange for payment.

 

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, Nazaha stressed that it will continue monitoring, investigating, and prosecuting anyone who exploits public office for personal gain or damages public interest -- even after their service period has ended. The authority reiterated that all violators will face strict legal action without exception.