Prince Alwaleed Finally Released From "Hotel Arrest" | Zero Hedge
Description: On Saturday Saudi Arabia finally released Prince Alwaleed, more than two months after he was detained in what was described to be a "widespread crackdown on corruption" in the kingdom but was really just a shakedown of some of the country's richest royals

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# Prince Alwaleed Finally Released From "Hotel Arrest"

Two weeks after we reported that Saudi Arabia's billionaire prince Alwaleed Bin Talal was reportedly carted off from the Riyadh Ritz Carlton to Saudi Arabia's highest security prison after refusing to pay a $6 billion "freedom fee" to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to secure his freedom, the flamboyant billionaire and Twitter investor appears to have finally cracked, and according to the WSJ, Saudi authorities on Saturday finally released Alwaleed, more than two months after he was detained in what was described to be a "widespread crackdown on corruption" in the kingdom but was really just a shakedown of some of the country's richest royals as well as arrests of MbS' political opponents.

The FT quoted a colleague of bin Talal who said that He sounded very happy, well and the same"... if maybe a little bit poorer.

"Prince al-Waleed is already at his house in Riyadh and is expected to resume his business activities as normal", the WSJ reported citing sources. While it was previously disclosed that Saudi authorities demanded at least $6 billion from al-Waleed to free him, it wasn’t clear what if any "settlement" the prince agreed to pay; he has previously denied wrongdoing and fought allegations of bribery, extortion and money laundering.

Alwaleed will remain in control of Kingdom Holding Co. after reaching the settlement a senior government official cited by Bloomberg, which would suggest that the amount of money exchanging hands was substantial. The official also declined to provide details of settlement, and "cannot confirm or deny" whether attorney general is convinced of Alwaleed’s innocence.

"Settlements don’t happen unless the accused acknowledges violations and documents that in writing and pledges that he won’t repeat them. This is the general principle of all who were detained in corruption cases recently and not only Alwaleed bin Talal."

Alwaleed joins several other prominent Saudi businessmen who have reached financial settlements with the kingdom in the past few days pruchasing their release, including Waleed al-Ibrahim, owner of regional television network MBC, which reportedly was semi-nationalized as part of the deal.

> Other prominent names include Fawaz Alhokair, a major shareholder in fashion retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co.; Khalid al-Tuwaijri, a former chief of the Royal Court; and Turki bin Nasser, a former head of the country’s meteorology and environmental protection agency.

The releases of prominent Saudis appears to indicate that bin Salman's purge is winding down, and the Ritz is set to reopen next month as a five-star hotel.

In total, Saudi Arabia is said to have secured about $100 billion after many of the more than 200 detained agreed to settle and were released, Saudi officials said. However, as the FT adds, the government will have to rely on asset seizures rather than cash, the finance minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, said on Thursday.

The reason: western bankers say Saudi attempts to recover cash from overseas bank accounts have proved fruitless. “They are very smart people — they don’t leave cash in bank accounts, they find ways to hide this money in various assets,” Mr Jadaan told a session at the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos.

This is worth noting just in case someone is still confused about the utility of bitcoin.

* * *

Last Wednesday, the Saudi public prosecutor said that officials were moving ahead with plans to prosecute 95 people who were still detained and have declined to pay what the government describes as financial settlements.

Tags
Politics
Holding Companies - NEC
Social Media & Networking
Apparel & Accessories - NEC

## Comments

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BaBaBouy Jan 27, 2018 9:08 AM Permalink

And They Say MONEY Doesn't BUY You Happiness ~ ~ ~

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shitshitshit BaBaBouy Jan 27, 2018 9:10 AM Permalink

Ask him how does it feel to be on the other side of the fence for once.

In reply to w by BaBaBouy

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Juggernaut x2 shitshitshit Jan 27, 2018 9:28 AM Permalink

Where can I purchase that coffee mug?

In reply to All him how does it feel to… by shitshitshit

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TruthHammer Juggernaut x2 Jan 27, 2018 9:32 AM Permalink

Hillary2020 dot com, Prison Edition.

In reply to Where can I purchase that… by Juggernaut x2

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freedommusic TruthHammer Jan 27, 2018 9:39 AM Permalink

Looks like the canary who sang...

In reply to Hillary2020 dot com, Prison… by TruthHammer

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Life of Illusion freedommusic Jan 27, 2018 9:46 AM Permalink

100 billion war chest

In reply to Looks like the canary who… by freedommusic

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Potato Farmer Life of Illusion Jan 27, 2018 10:13 AM Permalink

So he was forgiven of the coup attempt in Las Vegas? Hmm?

In reply to 100 billion war chest by Life of Illusion

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MillionDollarButter Potato Farmer Jan 27, 2018 10:26 AM Permalink

I hope he will testify against his DOJ co-conspirators. Dopey looks healthier. Maybe taking a break from the drugs is just what he needed.

In reply to So he was forgiven of the… by Potato Farmer

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D503 MillionDollarButter Jan 27, 2018 10:48 AM Permalink

And they are all "family."

In reply to I hope he will testify… by MillionDollarButter

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Sudden Debt freedommusic Jan 27, 2018 10:17 AM Permalink

he looks good, lost some weight and he still has all his teeth

In reply to Looks like the canary who… by freedommusic

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sabaj49 Sudden Debt Jan 27, 2018 10:55 AM Permalink

when do we get to do same to our billionaires???

start with that bezos character

In reply to he looks good, lost some… by Sudden Debt

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Chupacabra-322 TruthHammer Jan 27, 2018 10:42 AM Permalink

Alwaleed was also a major investor in Marc Rich's Glencore IPO in 2011. Alwaleed invested $400 million.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/prince-alwaleed-says-400m-invested-in-gl…

Marc Rich, an international fugitive, was pardoned shortly before Bill Clinton left office in 1999 James Comey was the lead investigator in charge of looking into the Clinton pardon.

"In 2002, Comey, then a federal prosecutor, took over an investigation into President Bill Clinton's 2001 pardon of financier Marc Rich, who had been indicted on a laundry list of charges before fleeing the country. The decision set off a political firestorm focused on accusations that Rich's ex-wife Denise made donations to the Democratic Party, the Clinton Library and Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign as part of a plan to get Rich off the hook. Comey ultimately decided not to pursue the case."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/07/politics/who-is-james-comey-fbi-director-…

Former FBI Director James Comey sat on the board of banking giant HSBC.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213

The same Banking Giant that launders drug cartel money. And has been caught, charged and fined for doing so.

https://investments.hsbc.co.uk/news/company/24989264/glencore-gallops-higher-as-liberum-bullish-on-china-s-coal-policy

HSBC is also responsible for many of Glencore's investments. Again, Glencore was founded by the criminal Marc Rich, who paid for a pardon by former President Bill Clinton. A pardon which was investigated by James Comey, who sat on the board of HSBC, which laundered drug cartel money, and did business with a company that worked intimately with drug traffickers. Comey found "No evidence of criminal activity."

https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/786646253358768128

Wikileaks has shown us Alwaleed and Qatar, Glencore investors TIED to Joule Unlimited and John Podesta, and thus in multiple directions James Comey, The Clintons, and the democrats. And Qatar Gave Bill Clinton $1 million for a 5 minute meeting in 2011.

$1 million for a five minute meeting in 2011? Didn't Gadaffi fall in 2011? Didn't Alwaleed invest $400 million into Glencore in 2011? Didn't Glencore begin trading Libyan Oil in 2011?

A tweet from Alwaleed to Trump:

الوليد بن طلال

@Alwaleed_Talal

.@realDonaldTrump You are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America. Withdraw from the U.S presidential race as you will never win.

2:02 PM · Dec 11, 2015

https://mobile.twitter.com/Alwaleed_Talal/status/675390247165915137?s=1

Alwaleed was a major donor to the Clinton Foundation

In reply to Hillary2020 dot com, Prison… by TruthHammer

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buzzsaw99 Juggernaut x2 Jan 27, 2018 9:43 AM Permalink

on ebay in about three days. lolz

In reply to Where can I purchase that… by Juggernaut x2

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shitshitshit buzzsaw99 Jan 27, 2018 10:02 AM Permalink

Made in Isreal of course.

In reply to on ebay in about three days… by buzzsaw99

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Pernicious Gol… Juggernaut x2 Jan 27, 2018 10:10 AM Permalink

The coffee mug has a depiction of a human, in violation of the loving instructions in the Holy Quran. This is heresy. Off with his head.

In reply to Where can I purchase that… by Juggernaut x2

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nmewn shitshitshit Jan 27, 2018 9:31 AM Permalink

OT: Hot off the presses.

Peter Strzok has retained Hillary-crony David Boies as his defense attorney.

Now, how an FBI counter intelligence officer, Hillary exoneration letter editor-in-chief and present human resources employee at the FBI can afford someone like Boies is anyone's guess...but I have a few ;-)

In reply to All him how does it feel to… by shitshitshit

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DownWithYogaPants nmewn Jan 27, 2018 9:35 AM Permalink

Saudi must surely be running low on oil for this sort of extreme measure to have been taking.

........look for MBS to catch a slug soon.

In reply to OT: Hot off the presses… by nmewn

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JohninMK nmewn Jan 27, 2018 9:50 AM Permalink

Pro bono of course :)

In reply to OT: Hot off the presses… by nmewn

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nmewn JohninMK Jan 27, 2018 9:58 AM Permalink

Naturally...lol...I mean, if Boies, Schiller & Flexner can donate $416,100 to the Hillary Victory Fund in 2016, a little pro bono work on the sly in Strzok's behalf would be just a drop in the bucket ;-)

In reply to Pro bono of course :) by JohninMK

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pc_babe nmewn Jan 27, 2018 10:10 AM Permalink

who is paying for his counsel? Or is it pro bono?

In reply to OT: Hot off the presses… by nmewn

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el buitre nmewn Jan 27, 2018 10:20 AM Permalink

Crowdfunding among the ZH commentariat?

In reply to OT: Hot off the presses… by nmewn

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Pandelis Jan 27, 2018 9:09 AM Permalink

great. cant wait to see his interview on CNBC ... where is he recommending to invest next?

bitcoin utility is duly noted.

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Catahoula Pandelis Jan 27, 2018 9:13 AM Permalink

Kingdom Holdings

In reply to great. cant wait to see his… by Pandelis

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DownWithYogaPants Catahoula Jan 27, 2018 9:36 AM Permalink

"Holdings" in the literal sense. Not sure that hotel's business is going to recover quickly.

In reply to Kingdom Holdings by Catahoula

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TheMexican Pandelis Jan 27, 2018 9:14 AM Permalink

LOL

In reply to great. cant wait to see his… by Pandelis

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JoseyWalesTheOutlaw Jan 27, 2018 9:11 AM Permalink

Prince Little-Al can start bashing The Don again....maybe not

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Yog Soggoth JoseyWalesTheOutlaw Jan 27, 2018 9:30 AM Permalink

Since he was partners with Bill Gates in that Mandalay Bay thing, he can just ask Gates for a loan. They should both be in prison.

In reply to Prince Little-Al can start… by JoseyWalesTheOutlaw

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NickyGall Jan 27, 2018 9:11 AM Permalink

Here is an interesting look at how American companies are heavily involved in arming Saudi Arabia:

https://viableopposition.blogspot.ca/2017/11/saudi-arabias-military-cap…

A succession of administration in Washington have has heavily impacted the military balance that currently exists in the Middle East.

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el buitre NickyGall Jan 27, 2018 10:22 AM Permalink

But it is all to promote democracy :-)

In reply to Here is an interesting look… by NickyGall

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Jumanji1959 Jan 27, 2018 9:12 AM Permalink

Ah man,.......I wanted to see this fucker hang!

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Catahoula Jan 27, 2018 9:12 AM Permalink

Maybe he's been re-educated.

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Meat Hammer Catahoula Jan 27, 2018 9:18 AM Permalink

Hey guys, I found Jesus while I was locked up! I would like to talk to you about saving your soul...

Guys?

In reply to Maybe he's been re-educated. by Catahoula

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Jtrillian Jan 27, 2018 9:12 AM Permalink

When a "crackdown on corruption" = "tyrannical power grab", you now the world is one big oxymoron.

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AE911Truth Jtrillian Jan 27, 2018 9:43 AM Permalink

Government is organized crime.

Larken Rose

https://youtu.be/N6uVV2Dcqt0

In reply to When a "crackdown on… by Jtrillian

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Arnold Jan 27, 2018 9:13 AM Permalink

This is worth noting just in case someone is still confused about the utility of bitcoin.
.
.
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Money laundry.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

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el buitre Arnold Jan 27, 2018 10:25 AM Permalink

I agree, you know how many germs those Franklins gather over time? Can an electronic crypto carry a virus like herpes?

In reply to This is worth noting just in… by Arnold

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Umh el buitre Jan 27, 2018 10:55 AM Permalink

It would be easier to sanitize your cash than a computer.

In reply to I agree, you know how many… by el buitre

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soyungato Jan 27, 2018 9:14 AM Permalink

Mistake No. 1: Make enemy out of everybody who are rich and well connected.
Mistake No. 2: Allow enemy to stay alive.

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ThePhantom soyungato Jan 27, 2018 9:18 AM Permalink

right... this guys gotta be one pissed off mother

In reply to Mistake No. 1: Make enemy… by soyungato

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SumTingWongJr Jan 27, 2018 9:22 AM Permalink

Bitcoin ?

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Pernicious Gol… SumTingWongJr Jan 27, 2018 10:14 AM Permalink

Just as Hollywood converts any story into a stupid love story, even the bombing of Pearl Harbor, ZH is all about Bitcoin.

In reply to Bitcoin ? by SumTingWongJr

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DrBrown Jan 27, 2018 9:22 AM Permalink

He looks better with that stupid fucking table cloth wrapped around his head.

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Ink Pusher Jan 27, 2018 9:23 AM Permalink

Citi got their primary controlling shareholder back eh?

I wonder what their stock is going to look like on Monday afternoon... well not really.

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terryg999 Jan 27, 2018 9:23 AM Permalink

How much did he Clinton's get?

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William Dorritt Jan 27, 2018 9:26 AM Permalink

If he interferes with US elections, media or politics again, deal with him in a more severe manner.

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Wakesetter Jan 27, 2018 9:35 AM Permalink

He looks a little thin. He sang and gave up the butthole.

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SumTingWongJr Wakesetter Jan 27, 2018 10:24 AM Permalink

Yeah, he also lost the towel (head).

In reply to He looks a little thin. by Wakesetter

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Moe Howard Jan 27, 2018 9:44 AM Permalink

Now we know part of the story of Bitcoin's meteoric rise.

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RandianZealot Jan 27, 2018 9:58 AM Permalink

I'm sure they didn't use bitcoin to hide the money. No one uses bitcoin to hide money anymore. It's too complicated because you have to "wash" or "mix" your bitcoin so that it can't be traced. If they used a cryptocurrency, it was monero, zcash, dash, or verge.

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Son of Captain Nemo Jan 27, 2018 10:02 AM Permalink

Donny "L'Orange" squeezed out the smallest "link" of compassion from that ugly fetid boil laden ass of his for an old friend that saved him from at least 3 Chapter 7(s) in the "old days" by telling the Zionist leadership in Saudi Arabia...

Take all of his money to pay "our" bills... Then put him in a leisure suit with a plane ticket anywhere outside the Country he wants to go!

"Trading Places" 2018!!!

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