RIYADH: The CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla Amr bin Saleh Abdulrahman AlMadani has been arrested for his involvement in corruption crimes, an official source at the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) stated on Sunday.

The crimes include abuse of authority and money laundering.

The authority said AlMadani illegally obtained contracts for the benefit of the National Talents Company (of which he is an owner) from King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, before joining the government sector and through the mediation of one of his relatives.

The value of the contracts was SR 206.6 million ($55.1 million).

After joining the government sector, AlMadani continued to own part of the company and recommended it to the responsible departments of RCU.

As a result, the company was able to obtain projects with a total value of SR 1.3 million.

AlMadani acquired personal benefits from contracting companies with the commission and received profits from those projects through a relative of his called Mohammed bin Sulaiman Mohammed Al-Harbi who was also arrested.

Al-Harbi admitted to receiving money from the company and its owners and transferring it to AlMadani.

AlMadani’s partners in the company were also arrested and their names are: Saeed bin Atef Ahmed Saeed and Jamal bin Khaled Abdullah Al-Dabal. They acknowledged that they conspired with the CEO with regard to the incidents mentioned above.

Nazaha said legal procedures are currently being taken against the detainees for prosecution in a court of law, in line with laws and regulations.

The authority affirmed its commitment to pursuing anyone who exploits public office to achieve personal gain or harm public interest in any way, and will continue to implement the law.