RIYADH – Prominent Saudis held in what Riyadh dubbed an anti-corruptioncampaign were subjected to coercion and physical abuse, the New York Timesreported Monday, describing fear and uncertainty even after their release.
The newspaper said at least 17 detainees were hospitalised after facingabuse, while a Saudi general later died in custody with what witnesses saidappeared to be a broken neck.
Many of the 381 suspects, including princes, ministers and tycoons, remainunder military surveillance and some have been forced to wear anklebracelets that track their movements, the newspaper said.
The revelations came ahead of a high-profile visit to the United States byCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who orchestrated the crackdown in earlyNovember as he consolidates his grip on power.
Saudi officials did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment,but the New York Times quoted the government rejecting the abuse claims as“completely untrue”.
Officials have said they are in the process of recovering $107 billion (87billion euros) seized in the crackdown, in the form of property, securitiesand cash, handed over by the suspects in exchange for their freedom.
The detainees included billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, formerNational Guard chief Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, construction magnate Bakrbin Laden and media mogul Waleed al-Ibrahim of the regional MBC cablenetwork.
Some of those held at Riyadh’s luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel were deprived ofsleep, roughed up, interrogated with their heads covered and pressured tohand over large assets, the report said, citing relatives and associates ofdetainees.
Major General Ali al-Qahtani, a top aide to a son of the late KingAbdullah, was among those held. He later died in custody, his corpsebearing signs of torture, according to witnesses quoted by the newspaper.
Critics have labelled Prince Mohammed’s campaign a shakedown and powergrab, but authorities insist the purge targeted endemic corruption as thecountry prepares for a post-oil era.
The government on Sunday said Saudi King Salman had ordered the creation ofspecialised anti-corruption units in the public prosecutor’s office toinvestigate and prosecute graft cases.
Officials have not made public the charges against suspects detained at theRitz-Carlton.
Prince Mohammed is set to visit the US next week for the first time sincebecoming heir to the throne last June. The tour is aimed partly at courtingforeign investors. – Agencies