Palestinian billionaire Masri detained in Saudi Arabia: sources

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2. Palestinian billionaire Masri released by Saudis; says they 'gave him all respect'

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 17, 2017 / 2:41 AM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

Palestinian billionaire Masri released by Saudis; says they 'gave him all respect'

Suleiman Al-Khalidi
2 MIN READ

AMMAN (Reuters) - Sabih al Masri, a Palestinian billionaire and Jordan’s most influential businessman, was released after several days of detention in Saudi Arabia, who he said gave him “all respect”.

Masri, the chairman of Amman-based Arab Bank, was detained last Tuesday hours before he was planning to leave after chairing meetings of companies he owns, sources said.

The Saudi authorities have not commented on his detention, which followed the biggest purge of the Saudi kingdom’s rich and powerful in its modern history. His confidants had warned him not to travel to the Saudi capital after the mass arrests in early November, the sources said.

The detention sent shockwaves through business circles in Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Masri’s multi-billion- dollar investments in hotels and banking in Jordan are a cornerstone of the economy of the kingdom and he is by far the biggest investor in Palestinian territories.

Masri said on Sunday that he would be returning to Jordan after finishing business meetings this week.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-corruption-jordan-masri/palestinian-billionaire-masri-released-by-saudis-says-they-gave-him-all-respect-idUSKBN1EB06S