Riyadh [Saudi Arabia]: A new Saudi anti-corruption committee has detained 11 princes, four sitting ministers and dozens of former ministers.
According to The New York Times, arrests include Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
The committee is headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to Dubai-based Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya, the committee has announced fresh investigations into the 2009 Jeddah floods and the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Crown Prince: Every person, who has engaged in #corruption, regardless of their status, will be held accountable, provided there's evidence. pic.twitter.com/sTxKfqvjo2
— CIC Saudi Arabia (@CICSaudi) November 4, 2017
The committee has been given the authority to investigate, arrest, ban from travel, disclose and freeze accounts and portfolios, track funds and assets of individuals involved in corruption, said the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
SPA also reported that Saudi Economy and Planning Minister Adel bin Mohammed Faqih and National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz were sacked.
With inputs from ANI