Press TV - Saudi Arabia is reportedly set to seize assets of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the kingdom as part of Riyadhs so-called anti-corruption campaign apparently targeting the crown princes critics and opponents.
The New Arab, citing an unnamed source close to the Saudi authorities, reported on Monday that Riyadh is moving to acquire assets still owned by Hariri in the now defunct construction company, Saudi Oger, in return for cancelling outstanding debts.
The restructuring of Saudi companies whose owners are involved in corruption cases are steaming ahead, starting with the Binladin group and now moving towards Saudi Oger, the source said.
Although Saudi Oger does not have many assets left after liquidating its businesses, the authorities are determined to reclaim all funds and assets that were sold off, the source said.
The source said that the recent arrest of Jordanian-Saudi businessman Sabih al-Masri was linked to Saudi Oger and Hariri.
Al-Masri, Jordans most influential businessman and the chairman of its largest lender Arab Bank, was detained last month in Saudi Arabia for questioning after a business trip to Riyadh.
Hariri holds dual Saudi-Lebanese citizenship and has longstanding political and economic ties to the kingdom.
His family had owned a construction business there since the 1970s, but he was forced to close it in July 2017 due to financial reasons.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
This picture taken on March 9, 2016 shows towers under construction at the King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Towers in the complex are being built by the Saudi Oger company and other constructors. (By AFP)[/caption]Once-mighty construction giant, Saudi Oger has built some of the most grandiose complexes in Riyadh, including the palatial Ritz-Carlton hotel, which became a luxury prison for Saudi royals and other elites detained in November 2017 on the order of Saudi Arabias so-called Anti-Corruption Committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Most of those detained have struck monetary settlements in exchange for their freedom.
The crackdown is believed to be a self-promotion campaign launched by the crown prince aimed at consolidating his power and silencing his critics.
While most of its assets have been transferred, Saudi Oger still has three projects, including a 15-year maintenance and operation contract for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the kings palace in Tangier and a project in Mecca.
The asset seizure comes after the Saudis failed to coerce Hariri into stepping down as Lebanons prime minister over his reluctance to confront the Hezbollah resistance movement.
Last November, Hariri declared his surprise resignation from Riyadh, fueling strong beliefs at home and abroad that he had been forced to quit by the Riyadh regime in an attempt to pressure the Hezbollah resistance movement.
A New York Times report later revealed that Hariri, upon arrival in Riyadh, had found himself manhandled by Saudi forces and forced to resign his position.
Hariri, however, managed to get out of the kingdom amid internationalpressure on Riyadh. He rescinded his resignation after returning home.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, the Lebanese premier hailed Hezbollah, a party to his government, for doing its part to de-escalate the tensions.
