Saudi General Faces 10-Year Sentence For Bribery And Forgery In Anti-Corruption Crackdown

An official from the Ministry of Interior has confirmed the final ruling regarding General Khalid bin Qarar Al-Harbi. The former Director General of Public Security has been dismissed and referred to retirement following Royal Order No. A/60 dated 30/1/1443 AH. He faces numerous charges, including embezzlement, forgery, bribery, and abuse of influence.

The Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) conducted a thorough investigation into Al-Harbi's actions. They found him guilty of several crimes and referred him to the competent court under the Criminal Procedures Law. The court issued a final ruling proving his involvement in bribery and forgery.

Al-Harbi's conviction includes a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of SAR1,000,000 to be paid to the state treasury. Additionally, he was found guilty of exploiting his position for personal gain, manipulating government contracts, and embezzling public funds.

The court ordered the confiscation of bribes amounting to SAR10,084,303 received by Al-Harbi. These funds will be deposited in the state treasury. He is also required to return embezzled amounts totaling SAR2,827,000.

Furthermore, gifts or their equivalent value worth SAR175,000 given as bribes to relatives must be returned to the state treasury. Two agricultural lands acquired through criminal activities will also be confiscated.

Government's Commitment

The Ministry of Interior emphasised Saudi Arabia's commitment to protecting public funds and combating corruption in all its forms. The government aims to safeguard society from those who misuse their positions for personal gain or harm public interests.

The ruling against Al-Harbi underscores the government's dedication to enforcing regulations against violators. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to uphold integrity within public service sectors.

In addition to imprisonment and fines, Al-Harbi must return SAR584,000 related to his corrupt activities back to the state treasury. This comprehensive approach ensures that all ill-gotten gains are recovered.

The Ministry reiterated its stance on zero tolerance towards corruption and its determination to apply strict measures against any form of misconduct by public officials.

With inputs from SPA