Dubai - Senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin
Abdullah, a former National Guard head once seen as a contender
to the throne, has been freed after more than three weeks in
detention, according to Twitter messages by royal family members
on Tuesday.
Miteb was among dozens of royal family members, ministers
and current and former senior officials who were rounded up in a
graft inquiry at least partly aimed at strengthening the power
of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports of
his release and Saudi officials had no immediate comment.
"Almighty, thanks be to you ..." wrote Abeer bint Khaled bin
Abdullah, a royal family member, in a posting on her Twitter
account. Posting an apparent file photo of Prince Miteb, she
added: "May God give you long life, long life full of health,
and keep you for us."
Writing on his Twitter account, Moaid Mahjoob, who
identifies himself as director of external relations for
Princess Jawahar Al-Saud, another Saudi royal family member,
said Prince Miteb "had been released and that he was at his home
in Riyadh".
Another royal family member, Princess Nouf bint Abdullah bin
Mohammed bin Saud, also posted a similar message on Twitter,
writing over a photo of Prince Miteb: "May you be safe for us,
Abu Abdullah."
The posting of a photo and thanksgiving to God indicates the
author of the Tweet believes Miteb has been freed.
It was not immediately clear how his release had come about
but sources familiar with the matter have said that Saudi
authorities were striking agreements with some of those in
detention asking them to hand over assets and cash in return for
their freedom.
In an interview with the New York Times published last week,
Prince Mohammed bin Salman was quoted as saying that the vast
majority of about 200 businessmen and officials implicated in
crackdown are agreeing to settlements under which they hand over
assets to the government.
As the Sandhurst-trained preferred son of the late King
Abdullah, Miteb was once thought to be a leading contender for
the throne.
Before he was sacked by a royal decree on Nov. 4, he headed
the Saudi National Guard, an elite internal security force
originally based on traditional tribal units that was run by his
father for five decades.
He was also the last remaining member of Abdullah's Shammar
branch of the family to retain a key position at the top of the
Saudi power structure, after brothers Mishaal and Turki were
relieved of their posts as governors in 2015.