As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and combat corruption, the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) announced that it has initiated 11 new criminal cases recently, confirming that legal proceedings are underway against those involved. This step comes as part of the comprehensive national anti-corruption campaign, a key pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to build a prosperous economy and a vibrant society based on the principles of governance, integrity, and accountability.
The continued exposure of these cases not only reflects the scale of the problem but also underscores the state's seriousness and determination to eradicate corruption at its roots, regardless of the positions or status of those involved. This approach strengthens citizens' trust in state institutions and sends a powerful message to local and international investors that the business environment in the Kingdom is subject to rigorous oversight and guarantees equal opportunities and fair competition, thus contributing to attracting quality investments that support sustainable development.
Details of the most prominent cases that were revealed:
- The first case: In cooperation with the Public Investment Fund, a resident project manager working in a commercial entity affiliated with the Fund was arrested for receiving 2,175,000 riyals as a bribe from two citizens and another resident (all of whom were arrested) in exchange for awarding a project and arranging subcontracting work.
- The second case: A health affairs employee was caught red-handed receiving 500,000 riyals, part of a bribe agreed upon for 10 million riyals, to facilitate the awarding of two projects worth over 384 million riyals. The CEO of the bribing company and officials in the engineering department were also detained.
- The third case: Three employees in the Civil Status Department were suspended for receiving 850,000 riyals in exchange for registering births and issuing national identity cards in an irregular manner.
- The fourth case: In cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, a retired non-commissioned officer was arrested for embezzling 2,160,000 riyals from evidence seized in criminal cases during his work.
- Fifth case: A municipality employee was caught red-handed receiving 300,000 riyals out of an agreed-upon 800,000 riyals, to facilitate the procedures for licensing raw land.
- Case Six: A non-commissioned officer in the Civil Defense was suspended for requesting money from commercial entities in exchange for overlooking safety violations.
- Case Seven: A military officer and two citizens were arrested at a police station for their involvement in seizing 1,400,000 riyals from a resident.
- Case Eight: Suspension of a Secretariat employee and member of the bids examination committee for receiving 20,000 riyals in exchange for facilitating the awarding of a project.
- Case Nine: An employee of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and a resident were arrested for receiving money in exchange for updating eligibility for agricultural support based on false data.
- Case Ten: A municipality employee and a resident were arrested for receiving money in exchange for issuing building permits and building completion certificates in an irregular manner.
- Eleventh case: Suspension of an employee of the Regional Development Authority for employing his wife in a company contracted with his employer in a fictitious manner (without attendance).
The official spokesperson for the authority stressed that “Nazaha” continues to monitor and apprehend anyone who misappropriates public funds or exploits their position to achieve personal interests, emphasizing that financial and administrative corruption crimes do not lapse with time, and that the authority is proceeding with the application of regulations against violators without any leniency.
