Sabih Al-Masri arrives to Amman early Tuesday coming from Riyadh

Jordan

Published: 2017-12-19 13:16

Last Updated: 2024-03-27 17:08


Sabih Al Masri, one of the most influential businessmen and the chairman of the largest Jordanian lender Arab Bank.
Sabih Al Masri, one of the most influential businessmen and the chairman of the largest Jordanian lender Arab Bank.

Confidential sources confirmed to Roya that Sabih Al Masri, the Jordanian businessman held over corruption in Saudi Arabia, arrived to Amman early on Tuesday coming from Saudi Arabia.

Al Masri arrived to Jordan after he was held in Saudi Arabia last week for few days in a mysterious conditions.

On Sunday, Al Masri told Reuters that he will be returning to Amman after concluding his meetings in Saudi Arabia this week.

He confirmed that Saudi authorities treated him with total respect and he feels “happy to be free”.

As one of the most influential businessmen and the chairman of the largest Jordanian lender Arab Bank, media reports on Thursday confirmed he was detained for questioning after a business trip to Riyadh last week, family sources said.

He canceled a dinner in Amman on Wednesday after he had invited board members of Arab Bank and business associates to attend when he returns.

While reasons for his detention were not clear yet but media reports said that he might have been used to put pressure on Jordan’s King not to attend a Muslim summit last week to discuss Trump’s Jerusalem decision.

The Saudi authorities on November 4th began a campaign of arrests of multiple princes and businessmen in Saudi Arabia, under the direct orders of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following accusations of corruption.

After King Salman bin Abdulaziz established a committee to fight corruption in the kingdom, presided by his son the Crown Prince.

It appears that the number of detainees has been increasing since, while observers believe that other names might join for the list of detainees in the coming period.