A Saudi man, Khalid Ibrahim Al-Jraiwi, was arrested for illegally securing SR493 million (approximately $131 million) in bank financing through fraudulent means, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) reported. The arrest was made in collaboration with the Presidency of State Security and the Saudi Central Bank.
Al-Jraiwi’s crime involved working with a bank employee to deceive banking regulations. He submitted a financing request containing fake property deeds and forged contracts, falsely claiming government investments in the properties. The bank employee, complicit in the scheme, validated the fraudulent documents, leading to the approval of the financing.
After receiving the funds, Al-Jraiwi transferred SR100 million abroad to purchase properties, which were registered under his relatives’ names. Additionally, three men from the General Directorate of Passports were arrested for facilitating Al-Jraiwi’s illegal entry and exit in exchange for money. They have admitted to the charges and have been referred for prosecution.
In another significant case, Nazaha cooperated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to arrest Saudi man Mohammed Ghazi Mohammed Al-Sayed and two Yemeni residents for attempting to smuggle a container of cigarettes through Jeddah Islamic Port. The men paid SR1.5 million to bypass a SR7.2 million tariff, falsely declaring the cargo as paper tissues. Investigations are ongoing as the accused prepare for court proceedings.
In a separate incident, Nazaha officials, in collaboration with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, arrested Sudanese national Osman Mohammed Naeem Abdulrahman for smuggling four tons of tobacco from Jeddah Islamic Port, using a car and SR20,000 in bribes.
Additionally, Khalaf Saleh Marzouq Al-Khaldi, an official from the Al-Jouf Municipality, was arrested for receiving SR8 million from Yemeni resident Mohammed Ali Omar Al-Saqaf. In return, Al-Khaldi issued invoices for non-existent roadworks projects valued at over SR17.6 million.
These arrests highlight the ongoing efforts of Nazaha and other authorities to tackle corruption, fraud, and smuggling within Saudi Arabia. Legal proceedings for the accused individuals are underway.