Saudi Arabia detains 11 princes, 4 ministers in corruption cases

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 PrinceAccording 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. 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