RIYADH, 17 February — Four bank accounts frozen inside the Kingdom as part a worldwide crackdown on those who finance terrorism are owned by expatriates, a high-level source at Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency has announced.
“Of the more than 150 names that came under scrutiny as per a UN Security Council decision, 97 percent have no accounts or dealings with Saudi banks. Only four accounts are frozen in this respect,” he said.
The source said SAMA had called for an immediate search for accounts, deposits and investments belonging to terrorists and terrorist organizations and has informed US security agencies that it would freeze such accounts and disclose the details of those with which it had dealings before.
“SAMA will also cooperate with Saudi banks to protect their assets and interests in the United States and Europe from being frozen,” the source said.
He added that Saudi banks have been respecting its clients’ secrecy according to Saudi regulations.
