Saudi Arabia detentions: Living inside ’five-star prison’

The crown prince's cousin Miteb bin Abdullah, who headed the elite National Guard, is now said to spend his nights in the Ritz too.

And why these people, not others, which led to assertions that this was more of a ruthless move against royal rivals and critics?

"Everyone here has a file," replies the sombre-faced official from the Public Prosecutor's Office. "Everything is documented."

Over the past two years, under the crown prince's direction, a team has been compiling alleged evidence in great secrecy with some documents dating back decades.

Then, once a new anti-corruption committee was announced by royal decree, the money hunters made their move.

Questions about legality are met with references to Saudi law and the independence of the Public Prosecutor.

The judicial official clarifies that this is still "a pre-investigation". "We're asking people who took the money to give it back," he says.

"It's a friendly process," chimes in the anti-corruption official who says everyone was told "we'll show you the evidence and we'll solve the problem".

Medical crises and mistreatment rumours

An image is painted of a process taking place behind closed doors, mainly inside hotel rooms where 201 detainees are now said to spend most of their time. Most, we are told, want to avoid running into others. Most want to just focus on finding a way out of here.

The mood now is described as "very serious".

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Saudi corruption arrests 'just the start'

An official rattles off the Ritz-Carlton's new register of guests which includes experts from government ministries, the treasury, stock market, ex-bankers, specialists in money laundering, justice, as well as real estate. They're said to be on shift 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help process these cases.

Some stay in the hotel and some work from their own offices. Along with medical teams and security guards, more than 500 people are now registered as staying at Ritz-Carlton, at the Kingdom's expense.

As of a few days ago, seven suspects had walked free. Accounts provided inside the hotel, and confirmed by sources outside, say they had been able to clarify what was in their file and prove their innocence.

Official sources say 4% of the accused say they'll take their case to court. But 95% of people on the list are now reportedly ready to come to a deal. That would mean handing over significant amounts of cash or assets to the Saudi treasury in exchange for their freedom.

A businessman in Riyadh, who has seen some of the documents, had told me 1,900 bank accounts, including ones belonging to family members of suspects, were frozen. I ask officials in the Ritz-Carlton about reports of cash and assets totalling 800 billion dollars.

"Even if we get 200 billion back, that would be good," replies the official from the Special Committee.

His zeal is palpable. "You see this," he says as he picks up a gold-rimmed coffee cup to explain his point. "It should cost 10 dollars. But with corruption, it costs 100 dollars." Then he cities examples from his files including unfinished schools, and hospitals which cost 100 million dollars whose price tag should have been less than a third of that.

Outside this inner sanctum, rumours surface about mistreatment and medical crises.

"Some guests are old, and some suffer from diabetes, heart problems, or other conditions," the human rights official explains in our briefing.

He says a health centre is staffed around the clock by doctors and nurses, rooms are checked, and special medicines are brought from homes.

It's not hard to imagine the extraordinary anger and stress which must also fill this hotel.

Saudis who once held sway in the kingdom are now being held captive against their will.

"If you do surgery, there will be pain," says the anti-corruption official matter-of-factly. "And some people outside are angry because their bosses, or their family members, are in here."

But he insists that "when it comes to percentages, 99% of Saudis are happy".

'I stay in my room'

It's hard to be scientific about public opinion here. But conversations outside the Ritz's metal gates underline there is broad support for tackling what is known to be rampant corruption.

"It's like losing your watch and then you find it," a young real estate developer tells me. "It's your watch, so you want it back."

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