11 princes and dozens of former ministers get in custody in a new anti-corruption investigation leaded by the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Saturday detached a major Prince who headed the National Guard, replaced the Economy Minister and call for the creation of a new anti-corruption commission.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel reported late Saturday nightthat 11 princes and dozens of former ministers were under arrested in a new anti-corruption probe headed by the kingdom’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was also named to keep an eye on the new commission.

Al-Arabiya reported that the commission is looking into overwhelming and deadly floods that weighed down parts of the city of Jiddah in 2009 and is probing the Saudi government’s reaction to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus that has killed a number of people in the past few years.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s apex committee of member of the clergy issued a statement saying it is an Islamic duty to battle corruption effectively giving religious backing to the top-level detains being reported.

The Royal order asserted the commission was established “due to the propensity of some people for abuse, setting their personal interest above the public interest, and robbery of public funds.”

Saudi nationals have long complained of uncontrolled corruption in government and of public funds being squandered or distorted by group in power.

The 32-year-old Crown Prince has been looking for to create a center of attention greater international investments and improve the country’s reputation as a place to do business. It’s part of a larger effort to broaden horizons of the economy away from dependence on oil revenue.

The King ousted one of the country’s highest-level Royals from power, removing Prince Miteb bin Abdullah as head of the National Guard. He was replaced by Prince Khalid bin Ayyaf al-Muqrin, who had held a senior post with the guard.

Prince Miteb’s father was the late King Abdullah, who also had led the National Guard and had transformed it into a powerful and prestigious force tasked with protecting the ruling Al Saud family, as well as important holy sites in Mecca and Medina, and oil and gas sites.

Prince Miteb was once considered a contender for the throne. His ouster as head of the National Guard essentially sidelines one of the most formidable rivals to the current Crown Prince, who has amassed enormous power in less than three years since his father, King Salman, ascended to the throne.

It comes just three months after Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was ousted from the line of succession and from his post as Interior Minister, overseeing internal security.

With the two princes now sidelined, control of the kingdom’s security apparatus is now largely centralised under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Defence Minister.

The monarch also replaced Minister of Economy and Planning Adel Fakeih with his deputy, Mohammad al-Tuwaijri.

Admiral Abdullah Al-Sultan was also sacked as commander of Saudi Naval Forces and replaced by Admiral Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghifaili.