JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued a royal order dismissing officials from their posts based on the information received from the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, Red Sea Co., and Al-Soudah Development Company about encroachments on the Red Sea project land plots. Encroachments on the Red Sea project land plots have exceeded 5,000, in addition to other violations in Al-Ula, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Friday. Under the royal order, Awwad Al-Balawi, the director-general of Saudi Border Guards, was dismissed and referred to retirement. Moreover, the governors of Amlaj and Al-Wajh, as well as the head of Soudah were relieved of their posts. Border Guards leaders in Amlaj and Al-Wajh were also relieved of their posts. The governmental official in the Ministry of Interior and his deputy, as well as officials in the cities of Madinah, Tabuk, and Asir, who were responsible for encroachments, were relieved of their posts. Mayor of Tabuk as well as emirs of Amlaj, Al Wajh, and Al Souda were relieved of their posts. Officials, who were responsible for encroachments in secretariats of Madinah and Tabuk regions, were relieved of their posts. The Ministries of Interior and Municipal and Rural Affairs, Madinah, Tabuk, Asir have been given one month to remove all encroachments. Strict measures have been ordered to be taken in case of any further encroachments, according to the royal order. Saudi Arabia's Control and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) has been asked to immediately launch an investigation into all the officials referred to above about their responsibility for the above-mentioned infringements, and take legal action against them, and submit the results.
