Two lawsuits have been filed in the United States and Canada against a former Saudi intelligence official for inciting the real leader of Saudi Arabia. Threatens to expose government secrets, urges Washington to consider rare judicial intervention, AFP
The lawsuit alleges corruption against Saudi state-owned companies Saad AljabrFormer Kingdom Chief Spy who has long worked with US officials on covert counter-terrorism operations. They are the latest twists and turns in the long-running feud between the Crown Prince
Mohammad Ben Salman, MBS, ad Saad Aljabri.
Was Saad al-Jabri caught up in the rivalry between the two princes?
Saad al-Jabri is close to the prince Mohammed Ben Naib, Who lost his heir to the throne for MBS in 2017 and is detained in Saudi Arabia. The MBS, now the real ruler of the state, led to relentless repression of opponents of the regime, including the ruling family.
Denying any financial irregularities, Saad al-Jabri says he is embroiled in a rivalry between the two princes.
These contests worry even the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice took a rare step to a Massachusetts court in April, citing a former spy in a lawsuit against him aimed at “reporting alleged information about national security measures.”
Washington is ready to intervene
“The U.S. government is considering how to participate in this process, including ensuring appropriate government concessions, if necessary,” the document said without further details. In May, U.S. Justice requested an additional delay.
Legal experts say Washington may seek a “state privilege concession” that would allow the court to oppose the release of information that could be considered harmful to U.S. national security.
The CIA declined to comment. The Ministry of Justice, which experts say rarely interferes in civil trials, has not responded to AFP’s request.
“Pure Revenge”
Last year, Saad al-Jabri said in another case that the MBS had sent agents to assassinate him in Canada, where he was deported. He also pointed out that his two children were detained in Saudi Arabia and condemned the pressure to force him to return to Riyadh.
Last March, the state-owned Shaqab Saudi Holding, MBS. The conflict took a new turn when Saad al-Jafri was accused of embezzling $ 3.47 billion while working in the interior ministry under. The company has asked a Massachusetts court to freeze $ 29 million in real estate assets in Boston.
The request comes weeks after several state-owned companies filed lawsuits against Saad al-Jabri in Toronto over similar allegations. “Dr. Chad will never expose secret counter-terrorism plans that have saved thousands of lives, including Americans,” a source close to Saad al-Jabri told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the pure sale of the MBS against Dr. Sadh has forced him to defend himself in court,” the source added. A Saudi official told AFP that the case was “between two private parties” and that “the Saudi government was not involved.” An American lawyer representing MBS declined to comment on the case.
Saad Aljabri was able to access important information
While the U.S. Department of Justice is considering measures to prevent any government secrets from being leaked in Massachusetts, it is unclear how this can be done in a Canadian court.
Evidence close to Saad al-Jabri acknowledged that any exposure would “expose participants in (anti-terrorism) activities, disclose evidence and methods and interfere with similar (…) actions to come”.
A source close to Saudi leaders reiterated allegations of corruption involving billions of dollars, while Saad al-Jabri accused him of “poisoning US-Saudi relations.”
Many U.S. officials who worked with Saad al-Jabri have expressed support for him, and some have acknowledged that he has access to sensitive information. Saad al-Jabri “at least worked directly with the CIA, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, the State Department and the Treasury,” former CIA chief Philip Mutt said in an affidavit.