Palestinian billionaire Masri detained in Saudi Arabia: sources

[Mosby]

AMMAN (Reuters) - Sabih al-Masri, Jordan’s most influential businessman and the chairman of its largest lender Arab Bank, was detained in Saudi Arabia for questioning after a business trip to Riyadh, family sources and friends said on Saturday.

Masri’s detention, which follows the biggest purge of the Saudi kingdom’s affluent elite in its modern history, has sent shockwaves through business circles in Jordan and the Palestinian territories, where the billionaire has major investments.

A Saudi citizen of Palestinian origin, Masri was detained last Tuesday hours before he was planning to leave after he chaired meetings of companies he owns, according to the sources.

He is the founder of Saudi Astra Group, which has wide interests in diversified industries ranging from agro-industry to telecommunications, construction and mining across the region.

“Masri was heading to the airport and they told him to stay where you are and they picked him up,” said a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-corruption-jordan-masri/palestinian-billionaire-masri-detained-in-saudi-arabia-sources-idUSKBN1EA09M?il=0

Eta - I meant to post this somewhere else but I'm just going to leave it.

[marble falls]

1. This works, General Discussion might have given it more exposure but the news is important. Kick.

[Eugene]

2. Palestinian billionaire Masri released by Saudis; says they 'gave him all respect'

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 17, 2017 / 2:41 AM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

Palestinian billionaire Masri released by Saudis; says they 'gave him all respect'

Suleiman Al-Khalidi
2 MIN READ

AMMAN (Reuters) - Sabih al Masri, a Palestinian billionaire and Jordan’s most influential businessman, was released after several days of detention in Saudi Arabia, who he said gave him “all respect”.

Masri, the chairman of Amman-based Arab Bank, was detained last Tuesday hours before he was planning to leave after chairing meetings of companies he owns, sources said.

The Saudi authorities have not commented on his detention, which followed the biggest purge of the Saudi kingdom’s rich and powerful in its modern history. His confidants had warned him not to travel to the Saudi capital after the mass arrests in early November, the sources said.

The detention sent shockwaves through business circles in Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Masri’s multi-billion- dollar investments in hotels and banking in Jordan are a cornerstone of the economy of the kingdom and he is by far the biggest investor in Palestinian territories.

Masri said on Sunday that he would be returning to Jordan after finishing business meetings this week.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-corruption-jordan-masri/palestinian-billionaire-masri-released-by-saudis-says-they-gave-him-all-respect-idUSKBN1EB06S