It became known about the beatings and blackmail of “dispossessed” Saudi princes in the five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, where they were kept from November 2017 to February due to suspicions of corruption. The Guardian writes about this, referring to high-ranking business representatives of Saudi Arabia.
The information was disclosed ahead of the G20 summit in Riyadh, which will be held in video format this weekend.
Three years after the arrest of four princes and dozens of Saudi Arabian ministers, it became known of the torture, beatings and blackmail that night. Security officials intimidated detainees under the supervision of two ministers, who are confidants of the “purgeor” Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud.
It also turned out that the princes were ordered to transfer money from their deposits in Swiss banks. Some of the detainees reported threats they had received to divulge private information, such as extramarital affairs or business relationships.
Almost all detentions at the Ritz Carlton began with a phone call, with the victims being invited to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or the King of Saudi Arabia himself, Salman bin Abdul Aziz. They were told to stay in the house and wait for the councilor of the royal court to join them. Instead, the state security officers entered, escorting them to the “five-star prison.”
On the night of November 5, 2017, the princes were taken into custody at the Ritz Carlton, as well as four current and dozens of former ministers. The arrests took place at the initiative of the National Anti-Corruption Committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud. On January 22, it became known that the government is ready to release and drop all charges against the arrested princes only if they agree to pay $ 100 billion. Eight days later, all those detained on suspicion of bribery and embezzlement were released.
