Saudi Arabia releases two princes from detention after clampdown on corruption

Two princes, sons of the late King Abdullah, have been freed two months after they were detained in an anti-corruption crackdown.

“They have been released,” a source close to the government said a day after a family member posted photos of Prince Faisal, a former head of the Saudi Red Crescent, and Prince Mashal, a former governor of Makkah, on Twitter.

The source said that Prince Turki was the only brother left in detention. Another brother, Prince Miteb, formerly the head of the national guard, was released last month after three weeks in detention following a settlement with authorities reportedly exceeding $1 billion.

The four brothers were among more than 200 royals, officials and businessmen detained on charges of corruption in a crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Most of those detained have struck financial settlements in exchange for their freedom, the attorney general said this month.

Those who continue to deny charges against them will soon face trial.

Last week, 23 people were released after reaching settlements with the authorities. Other high-profile targets of the crackdown include billionaire Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia.

Those held have been kept at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel and other five-star hotels across the capital.

Saudi authorities said the purge was meant to target endemic corruption as the kingdom seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy.

The attorney general has said he estimates at least $100bn has been lost in embezzlement or corruption over several decades.