![](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/720x405\/p05nzcs1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMedia reports suggest that Mr al-Ibrahim’s deal may have included his controlling share in MBC – the largest media company in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The anti-corruption drive was instigated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman – who has been accused of using the investigation to remove opponents and consolidate his power.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the purge,\u00a0Saudi Arabia’s attorney general said at least $100bn (\u00a376bn) had been misused through systemic corruption\u00a0and embezzlement going back decades.<\/p>\n
The detentions – and the expensive settlements – are being characterised by the state as an attempt to recover those funds.<\/p>\n
Many more of those detained remain in the Ritz Carlton under guard, until it reopens for Valentine’s Day in mid-February.<\/p>\n
Those who do not reach settlements before then are expected to be sent to prison to await trial.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, one of the highest-profile detainees, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told Reuters news agency on Saturday that he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing and “released from custody within days”.<\/p>\n
The billionaire – who is one of the country’s richest people – said he expected to keep full control of his investment firm.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Some of Saudi Arabia’s most powerful men detained in November in an anti-corruption purge have been released. Among those set free are Waleed al-Ibrahim, the head of MBC television network, and Khalid al-Tuwaijiri, a former chief of the royal court. They have paid substantial financial settlements, reports say – though the amounts have not been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":395683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[16545,747],"yoast_head":"\n