Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was released from detention Saturday two months after he was arrested under accusation of corruption. Prince Alwaleed was detained — along with other investors, officials, and members of the Saudi royal family — on order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The sweep was described as a corruption purge but is widely considered an effort to consolidate the crown prince's power. Since November, several other detainees have also been released, but it remains unclear who is still detained or what deals facilitated the releases that have been reported.
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