Saudi Arabia arrests 30 officials over illegal Hajj facilitation

The Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, has arrested 30 government employees accused of enabling unauthorized pilgrims to perform Hajj.

The suspects allegedly allowed Saudi citizens and residents without valid permits to pass through security checkpoints. Among those arrested are 26 employees from the Ministry of Interior, two from the Ministry of Defense and one each from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance and Nazaha itself. Legal procedures are underway against all involved.

Nazaha also revealed a series of unrelated corruption cases uncovered in recent weeks. A former university employee was arrested for embezzling SR100,800 from the university’s account during his tenure. A non-commissioned officer from the General Directorate of Passports is accused of taking bribes to extend temporary work visas.

In another case, a mayoralty employee allegedly accepted payments from a businessman, a citizen and two residents to cancel municipal violations issued against commercial establishments.

An expatriate was detained for offering a bribe to a Nazaha employee at an airport in exchange for removing a seized shipment of tobacco. A Civil Defence officer was caught accepting money from a store employee in exchange for overlooking safety violations and renewing his license. A municipality employee allegedly accepted SR17,000 to allow a citizen to complete construction of a property without a title deed and promised an electricity connection.

In the judiciary, an employee and a court clerk at a criminal court were arrested for accepting money from clients to expedite the processing of pending cases and provide case information. A police station officer was found using an impounded vehicle license plate on his car, committing several traffic violations. Additionally, an employee of the National Water Company was accused of selling customer contact information to a contractor in exchange for money.

The Nazaha spokesperson emphasized that the authority will continue to pursue anyone who exploits public office for personal gain, embezzles funds or harms public interest. Accountability, the spokesperson stressed, applies even after an employee leaves public service and the law will be enforced without leniency.