Eleven princes jailed in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh : Authorities in Saudi Arabia have detained 11 Royal family members yesterday after they staged a rare protest at a royal palace in Riyadh against recently introduced austerity measures. 

Media reports indicated that the group of princes wanted the government to resume paying their utility bills, which was stopped earlier by a Royal Decree. 

Local online news website sabq.org said that the princes had gathered at the Qasr a-Hokm demanding to restore the state payment of water and electricity bills for royal family members.

The princes also demanded compensation for a death sentence issued against a relative. 

“They were informed of the error of their demands, but they refused to leave Qasr al-Hokm,” Sabq said, quoting unidentified sources. “A royal order was issued to the royal guards ... to intervene and they were detained and put into al-Hayer prison in preparation to put them on trial.”

“Everybody is equal before the law and anyone who does not implement regulations and instructions will be held accountable, no matter who he is,” the website added.

The report also identified the leader of the group by the initials S.A.S. 

Jeddah-based Okaz newspaper said that the princes were arrested by the Royal Guards when they refused to leave the palace.  

They were transferred to Ha’ir Prison pending trial.  Reports said Ha’ir prison, a large maximum security facility south of the capital, Riyadh, run by Saudi intelligence services, holds criminals, militants and al-Qaida terrorists. 

However, no official response is available for the media claims. 

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has introduced reforms that included cutting subsidies, introducing value-added tax (VAT) and cutting perks to royal family members to try to cope with a drop in crude prices that has caused a budget deficit estimated at 195 billion riyals in 2018.

The kingdom last year rounded up dozens of royal family members, current and former senior officials in a crackdown on corruption. They were held at the five-star Ritz Hotel in the capital Riyadh while government officials negotiated financial settlements.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, in a statement made earlier, said that the country’s reform plans will not tolerate corruption nor allow for anyone, regardless of their status or position, to receive special treatment when it comes to paying for their utilities.

Meanwhile, in another development, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman yesterday announced a salary hike of $267 or SR1,000 for state workers and military personnel for the next 12 months, effective January 1, 2018. The decree also announced a one-time bonus of SR5,000 for soldiers on the Kingdom’s southern border. 

The decree also offers students a hike of 10pc in allowances. Also, the state will pay the VAT, not exceeding SR850,000, for first-time home buyers.