Saudi court hands 20-year prison sentence to former security chief for corruption

A Saudi court has sentenced Lieutenant General Khalid bin Qarar al-Harbi, the former Director of Public Security, to 20 years in prison for corruption, following his dismissal from office in 2021.

According to Saudi local media, al-Harbi was convicted of bribery, forgery, and exploiting his position for personal gain.

According to the statement from the Ministry of Interior, the court's final ruling includes a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of one million Saudi riyals (Rs 75 million) for al-Harbi.

Additionally, he has been ordered to return over 13 million Saudi riyals (Rs 34 million), along with two agricultural plots, gifts received as bribes, and other embezzled funds.

Al-Harbi had been in charge of public security since December 2018 and previously served as the director of Special Emergency Forces for two years.

In late 2022, a preliminary ruling sentenced him to 25 years, but the final verdict has adjusted this to 20 years.

The case highlights Saudi Arabia's ongoing anti-corruption efforts spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman since 2017.

His campaign has targeted high-profile figures, including princes, business leaders, and officials, in a bid to tackle corruption and promote transparency.

The Kingdom, ranked 52nd on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, has been active in addressing corruption through public awareness campaigns and the establishment of a toll-free number for reporting suspicions.

The Commission of Integrity continues to announce arrests related to corruption across various government sectors.

In May 2024, Saudi Arabia arrested 112 individuals and investigated 446 others in a major anti-corruption clampdown.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) is following up on the continuous anti-corruption campaign.