RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal freed after two months detention in opulent five-star hotel, according report published in Gulf News.
The prominent billionaire investor has been in detention at the Ritz-Carlton since November on allegations of corruption.
According to a family source, the prince arrived to his residence in Riyadh on Saturday.
“He has he arrived home,” one told Reuters news agency.
His release came hours after he told Reuters in an exclusive interview at Riyadh’s opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel that he expected to be cleared of charges and soon be released.
“There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government,” he said in the interview, conducted shortly after midnight. “I believe we are on the verge of finishing everything within days.
Prince Talal, who continuing to maintain his innocence of any corruption, said
“I told the government I’d stay as much as they want because I want the truth to come out on all my dealings and on all things that are around me.”
The flamboyant prince, in his 60s, appeared grayer and thinner and had grown a beard while in detention.
“I have nothing to hide at all. I’m so comfortable, I’m so relaxed. I shave here, like at home. My barber comes here. I’m like at home, frankly speaking,” he said in a 30-minute interview.
في أول مقابلة له منذ توقيفه.. #الوليد_بن_طلال: لازلت أصر على براءتي من أي فساد pic.twitter.com/JAgVvQ3oAu
— مباشر نيوز (@mobashernewss) January 27, 2018
He also said he expected to remain in full control of his global investment firm Kingdom Holding Co, without being required to give up assets to the government.
Prince Talal was among some 350 arrested after the formation of an anti-corruption committee headed by the crown prince King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The government on Friday also released Waleed Al Ebrahim, head of the Middle East Broadcasting Centre, Al Tuwaijri and Fawaz Al Hokair and other detainees.