RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has formed a new office to monitor state spending and keep up the fight against corruption, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The formation of Nazaha, the anti-corruption office, will end the 15-month anti-corruption crackdown led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
The crown prince said earlier that the crackdown was launched in 2017 and would continue under the Nazaha office, which would be part of the General Auditing Bureau.
Saudi Arabia arrested 11 princes and 38 sitting and former ministers as well as deputy ministers over corruption charges in November 2017.
The crown prince defended his campaign as “shock therapy” in a bid to develop and diversify the economy. The royal court said that the operation recovered more than 106 U.S. billion dollars via settlements.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said that the government would continue to protect public funds.