dubai/zurich saudi arabia announce confiscate money assets hold dozens top officials businessmen detain anti-corruption crackdown experience two arab state try recover steal money egypt tunisia suggest riyadh may face years legal diplomatic battle secure assets hold abroad even success guarantee anti-corruption committee detain princes tycoons minister weekend power royal decree take whatever measure deem necessary seize company fund assets without wait result criminal investigations offshore scrutiny assets already begin gulf region saudi arabia regularly share information unite arab emirates central bank securities regulator ask bank finance company provide information account 19 saudi citizens bank source tell reuters thursday saudi committee give detail allegations individuals face though saudi officials say include money launder bribery extortion take advantage public office personal gain riyadh also set timetable confiscations although bank source say 1,700 domestic bank account already freeze request central bank committee try retrieve revenue lose corruption bribe illegal expropriation land total would 800 billion official riyadh chamber commerce industry estimate large amount fund believe financial source hold offshore bank account portfolio investments corporate shareholdings real estate many businessmen detain private plan one boeing 747 airliner study u.s. national bureau economic research estimate saudis stash away wealth equivalent 55 percent country gross domestic product foreign tax havens amount exceed 300 billion egypt tunisia experience show although asset freeze arrange within months repatriate money take many years cairo try unsuccessfully five years retrieve 85 million pound 111 million british bank account belong inner circle former president hosni mubarak british officials say bind british law require egyptians provide criminal convictions first tunisia far recover small portion 35 million claim switzerland follow 2011 revolution inspire arab spring uprise saudi prince alwaleed 's investment tmsnrt.rs/2j5fe04 precedents could give saudi arabia cause hope able repatriate money last year nigeria switzerland sign deal pave way return 300 million confiscate family nigeria former military ruler sani abacha request egypt tunisia libya syria lead nearly billion swiss francs billion assets freeze swiss authorities efforts egypt tunisia retrieve money stumble requirement submit evidence would admissible western legal systems prove beneficial owners assets show corruption take place often assets hold complex offshore vehicles make hard show really own carlo lombardini bank lawyer professor bank law university lausanne say riyadh would provide detail evidence prove money obtain seize assets switzerland ground corruption issue whether person saudi arabia defend whether benefit proper defense say saudi officials would satisfy swiss authorities owners assets give due process could difficult give speed scale crackdown sweep power give anti-corruption committee saudi attorney-general say monday detail question detainees already produce great deal evidence give detail senior saudi officials respond request information investigation gulf-based lawyer familiar international corruption case say two channel saudi arabia could pursue assets abroad case riyadh sign treaty convention foreign country could use obtain assistance gather evidence seek seize assets via court system however saudi arabia treaty unite state switzerland many countries saudi arabia could also send letter request relevant ministry nation would test diplomatic influence foreign capitals businessmen detention include international investor prince prince alwaleed bin talal whose wealth estimate forbes magazine crackdown 17 billion mohammad al-amoudi 10.4 billion construction agriculture energy company sweden saudi arabia ethiopia finance healthcare magnate saleh kamel 2.3 billion repatriate assets could hard riyadh may try avoid foreign legal action altogether many case instead make deal detain tycoons princes effect legalize fortunes exchange share money bankers consultants say government also strike deal businessmen royals avoid arrest part great commitment local economy say ayham kamel eurasia group practice head middle east north africa note saudi wealth store abroad tmsnrt.rs/2znhlrl saudi arabia face battle repatriate assets corruption crackdown