Saudi king dismisses public security director after corruption probe

A key Saudi public security figure has dismissed following a corruption investigation, Riyadh announced Tuesday evening. 

Public Security Director Lieutenant General Khaled bin Qarar Al-Harbi has been accused of committing "numerous violations and abuses at embezzling public money and making personal benefits", the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Harbi was also accused of involvement in various crimes including forgery, bribery, and abuse of influence, alongside 18 other private and public sector employees.

A royal order terminated Lieutenant Al-Harbi's employment.

The Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, Nazaha, will investigate Al-Harbi and others linked to the probe.

Nazaha will take legal against those who are found guilty and has launched legal procedures against individuals accused of financial and administrative criminal activity. 

A series of 20 corruption cases were publicly announced by the authority on Tuesday.

Among them were a National Guard major general and three retired officers of the same rank, accused of accepting money from a local company.

In another case, a director of a contracting company was arrested for paying installments in travel expenses for government employees and family members "in return for manipulating the quantities and requirements of government projects". Military and civilian officials were arrested in these cases.

#The_Oversight_and_Anti_Corruption_Authority initiates a number of criminal and administrative cases during the month of Muharram 1443H pic.twitter.com/OCwhF1NICh

— Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (@nazaha_en) September 8, 2021

On Wednesday, Nazaha announced it had conducted investigations into 748 individuals accused of criminal and administrative cases. It said 282 citizens and expats were arrested in the probe between 9 August and 7 September.