RIYADH – Saudi Arabian attorney general Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said onTuesday that 56 corruption suspects were still in custody out of 381high-profile figures detained on graft allegations.

He said he has decided to release all those proven not guilty and otherswho had agreed financial settlements with the government after admitting tocorruption allegations.

Mojeb also said that total settlements with the suspects had topped 400billion riyals ($107 billion) in various forms of assets includingproperty, securities and cash.

“The total number of subpoenaed individuals reached 381, a significantnumber of whom were called to testify or provide evidence,” Mojeb said in astatement released by the information ministry.

Saudi authorities launched an unprecedented anti-corruption drive in earlyNovember and arrested hundreds of royals, businessmen and officials.

They included billionaire prince Al-Waleed bin Talal who was freed onSaturday after agreeing a settlement.

Those held were detained at the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh.

The hotel is due to reopen on February 14, and it was not immediately knownif any of the 56 still in custody were kept there.

Mojeb said he has also decided to “keep in custody those individuals — 56in total — where the attorney general has refused to settle with them dueto other pending criminal cases”.

He said he will continue investigating the 56 detainees. – AFP