JEDDAH: Five people involved in the case of a Lebanese resident who was found to have SR1 billion in his checking account have been banned from traveling abroad.

They are officials working with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, with one holding the title of deputy minister.

Investigators have frozen the account of the Lebanese expat and are investigating his activities inside the Kingdom.

The five accused officials are to be tried in the coming weeks by the Special Criminal Court in Jeddah for money laundering.

In preparation for trial, law enforcement agencies replied to a report prepared by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the case, which contains evidence that proves practices of covering up the accused in illegal ways, violation of state regulations, as a well as numerous other violations.

The file was transferred to the administrative and criminal courts in Jeddah in accordance with the charges brought against the defendants.

The defendants face numerous penalties under anti-money laundering regulations, including up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to SR5 million, or both, in addition to confiscation of the illegal funds and assets.

If illegal funds have been mixed with funds and assets obtained legally, funds and assets will be confiscated up to the assessed value of the illegitimate funds.

Meanwhile, investigations have led to charges being leveled against a Saudi businessman for illegally covering up the Syrian owner of a company managed by the Lebanese resident, worth SR500 million. The resident had transferred large sums of money to his family in Lebanon to buy a home there. All checks in his name and documents with his signature while communicating with other companies have been obtained.

Charges were also brought against the third resident for his partnership with the first defendant and involvement in establishing an unlicensed business activity.

The Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution in Jeddah recently conducted wide-scale investigations while interrogating the businessman and two expats. Investigations point to “a deep-rooted relationship” between the Lebanese employees working in the businessman’s company, an investment, advertisement and media company, high-ranking officials at one of the service ministries, as well as former leaders in the Eastern Province and Riyadh municipalities.