Ex-OpenAI Engineer's Arrest Linked to Saudi Royals and Espionage Allegations

10/20/2026

According to prosecutors, an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family repeatedly tried to recruit Alfozan for an AI initiative in Saudi Arabia.

10/20/2026

A US federal judge on Monday ordered a former OpenAI employee from Saudi Arabia to remain in custody without bail because he was deemed to be a flight risk.

10/20/2026

He was deemed a flight risk due to his frequent contact with an unnamed member of Saudi royalty.

10/20/2026

Alfozan, a US green card holder, was arrested this month after staffers at OpenAI discovered an audio recording device planted behind a television in an executive conference room

10/19/2026

Saudi national Abdulrahman Alfozan is accused of planting a recording device in an executive conference room at OpenAI headquarters in San Francisco.

10/19/2026

American prosecutors have said that the Saudi national arrested for bugging OpenAI was 'in frequent communications via WhatsApp with a member of the Saudi royal family'.

10/19/2026

A judge ruled that Abdulrahman Alfozan should be held without bail after a Saudi consulate had offered to pay for his release.

10/19/2026

U.S. prosecutors allege that the defendant, Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, was in ​frequent communication ‌with an unnamed member of the Saudi Royal family and that a ‌member of the ​Saudi military paid...

10/19/2026

The Saudi government did not immediately respond to BBC requests for comment.