TheCable

Alwaleed bin Talal, a prominent member of Saudi Arabia’s royal family, has been arrested over corruption allegations.

According to New York Times, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman also had 10 princes, four ministers and a number ex-ministers detained in his anti-corruption crusade.

Among those detained is Ibrahim Al-Assaf, a former finance minister.

Bin Talal, who is one of the world’s richest men, has major stakes in Citigroup and Twitter, among other companies.

He also controls satellite television networks watched across the Arab world.

The arrest comes a few hours after the king replaced Mutaib bin Abdullah, minister in charge of the Saudi national guard.

Abdullah had controlled the last of the three Saudi armed forces which are not under control of the crown prince.

Earlier in the year, the king removed Mohammed bin Nayef as head of the interior ministry and placed him under house arrest.

By this action, Salman extended the crown prince’s influence over the interior ministry’s troops which is as good as a second armed force.

It is believed that the wave of arrests by the king is to consolidate the power of Mohammed bin Salam, his son and crown prince.