Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH884
2008-06-08 08:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
APPARENT SUICIDE OF FORMER EP MABAHITH CHIEF
how-toVZCZCXRO3926 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #0884 1600838 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 080838Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8544 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000884
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2018
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: APPARENT SUICIDE OF FORMER EP MABAHITH CHIEF
CONNECTED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT SCAM
Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000884
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2018
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: APPARENT SUICIDE OF FORMER EP MABAHITH CHIEF
CONNECTED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT SCAM
Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
1. (C) Summary. The EP security and business communities
have been buzzing over the presumed suicide of former EP
Mabahith chief Major General Sulaiman Mohammad al-Alwani
whose body was allegedly found hanging in the home of his
son in Makkah on May 29th. Al-Alwani had a rapid fall from
grace in the late 1990s in the wake of an embezzlement scam
involving EP Governor Mohammad bin Fahd (MbF). End Summary.
2. (C) In the late 1990s, a Saudi/French/Lebanese citizen
named Saeed al-Ayyas served as the business manager for EP
Governor Prince Mohammad bin Fahd's private financial
interests in Europe. Al-Ayyas allegedly embezzled SR 200
million and went into hiding. In circumstances that remain
unclear, he was either kidnapped or persuaded to return to
the Eastern Province several years ago to settle matters with
Prince Mohammad. Upon arrival, he was detained by Mabahith
officers under Alwani's command and put under house arrest at
al-Khobar's Oasis compound under a 24-hour GID guard.
Subsequently, al-Ayyas either escaped or managed to bribe his
way out of his house imprisonment. Despite a large police
presence at airports, the Bahrain causeway, and random
checkpoints throughout the Eastern Province,
al-Ayyas made a successful escape.
3. (C) In the wake of al-Ayyas's escape, MbF sacked both his
Chief of Staff Dr. Hamad al-Sanad and Major General al-Alwani
holding them personally responsible for al-Ayyas's escape.
Previously one of MbF's closest aides and enjoying a
reputation as a capable officer, Al-Alwani was briefly
transferred to al-Qassim, forced into an early retirement,
and moved back to al-Khobar. He became a "non-person" and
disappeared from the local social scene
since he was clearly out of favor with MbF and few
ex-colleagues/businessmen wished to risk MbF's displeasure by
being associated with him.
(APPROVED:KINCANNON)
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2018
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: APPARENT SUICIDE OF FORMER EP MABAHITH CHIEF
CONNECTED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT SCAM
Classified By: Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
1. (C) Summary. The EP security and business communities
have been buzzing over the presumed suicide of former EP
Mabahith chief Major General Sulaiman Mohammad al-Alwani
whose body was allegedly found hanging in the home of his
son in Makkah on May 29th. Al-Alwani had a rapid fall from
grace in the late 1990s in the wake of an embezzlement scam
involving EP Governor Mohammad bin Fahd (MbF). End Summary.
2. (C) In the late 1990s, a Saudi/French/Lebanese citizen
named Saeed al-Ayyas served as the business manager for EP
Governor Prince Mohammad bin Fahd's private financial
interests in Europe. Al-Ayyas allegedly embezzled SR 200
million and went into hiding. In circumstances that remain
unclear, he was either kidnapped or persuaded to return to
the Eastern Province several years ago to settle matters with
Prince Mohammad. Upon arrival, he was detained by Mabahith
officers under Alwani's command and put under house arrest at
al-Khobar's Oasis compound under a 24-hour GID guard.
Subsequently, al-Ayyas either escaped or managed to bribe his
way out of his house imprisonment. Despite a large police
presence at airports, the Bahrain causeway, and random
checkpoints throughout the Eastern Province,
al-Ayyas made a successful escape.
3. (C) In the wake of al-Ayyas's escape, MbF sacked both his
Chief of Staff Dr. Hamad al-Sanad and Major General al-Alwani
holding them personally responsible for al-Ayyas's escape.
Previously one of MbF's closest aides and enjoying a
reputation as a capable officer, Al-Alwani was briefly
transferred to al-Qassim, forced into an early retirement,
and moved back to al-Khobar. He became a "non-person" and
disappeared from the local social scene
since he was clearly out of favor with MbF and few
ex-colleagues/businessmen wished to risk MbF's displeasure by
being associated with him.
(APPROVED:KINCANNON)
GFOELLER