Saudi Arabian banks begins freezing the accounts of suspects ensnared in an anti-corruption probe, banking and business sources told on Monday.
Dozens of people including royals, ministers and businessmen have been detained in an investigation by a new anti-corruption body headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The central bank ordered banks to freeze the accounts of people under investigation in the probe, the sources said.
Two of the sources said the number of accounts affected could run into hundreds, but none of the sources mentioned the names of those affected.
“The freezing of accounts has already happened,” said another source. “The freezing is a precautionary measure that will end as soon as the suspects are either charged or pronounced innocent.”
Eleven princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers are among those arrested, including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia’s best-known international investor, according to Saudi officials.
The new anti-corruption committee has the power to seize assets at home and abroad before the results of its investigations are known.
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