...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
announced Wednesday the end of a high-profile anti-corruption probe that boosted the state coffers by more than $100 billion and has left dozens detained.
The crackdown on graft launched in 2017 saw hundreds of elite princes, ministers and businessmen held at the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Many were detained for weeks in the upmarket hotel, but most were released after agreeing significant financial settlements.
The corruption investigation concluded Wednesday with the approval of King Salman
...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Lord of Most of the Arabians...., according to a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency.
"The public prosecutor has refused to settle the cases of 56 individuals due to already existing criminal charges against them," the statement said.
An additional eight people have seen their cases referred to the public prosecutor after they refused to reach settlements.
"Settlements were reached with 87 individuals after their confession to the charges against them," SPA said.
During the probe more than 400 billion Saudi riyal ($107 billion) were recovered by the state "in the form of real estate, companies, cash, and other assets".
The figure matches that announced a year ago by the attorney general, who at the time said 56 suspects remained in jug.
Saudi's anti-graft sweep led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
...
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia as of 2016....has been labelled by some critics as a shakedown and power grab, but authorities have insisted the purge targeted endemic corruption.