Saudi Arabia’s Control and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) said it arrested 130 government employees and officials during June as part of a nationwide anti-corruption campaign targeting bribery, abuse of authority and financial embezzlement.

In its latest monthly report, the authority said investigation teams carried out 1,585 announced and unannounced inspection visits across the kingdom and questioned 383 suspected public officials.

Based on the evidence collected, 130 individuals were taken into custody under Saudi criminal law, while some were later released on bail pending further legal proceedings.

Nazaha said the suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution for trial on charges including abuse of authority, bribery and financial misconduct.

Those arrested include employees from the ministries of Interior, Defence, Health, Municipalities and Housing, and Islamic Affairs.

The anti-corruption authority was established in 2011 during the reign of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

In December 2019, a royal decree expanded its powers and renamed it the Control and Anti-Corruption Authority, widely known as Nazaha.

The authority reports directly to the highest authorities in Saudi Arabia and is responsible for investigating corruption in both the public and private sectors.

Its jurisdiction extends beyond civil servants to include ministers, senior royal officials, princes and military officers.

Nazaha also operates a public hotline, 980, and an online reporting portal through which citizens and residents can report suspected corruption or bribery.