Former OpenAI Engineer Accused of Bugging Had Ties to Saudi Royals, Prosecutors Say

Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old former OpenAI engineer, was arrested on October 9 on allegations of planting a listening device in a San Francisco office conference room. US prosecutors argue Alfozan, who faces up to five years in prison for intercepting oral communications, should remain in custody due to his alleged ties to the Saudi royal family, as reported by News18 World.

A document filed Sunday by the US Attorney’s Office detailed frequent communications between Alfozan and an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family. Prosecutors stated that this individual repeatedly sought to recruit Alfozan for an artificial intelligence initiative in Saudi Arabia. Alfozan, who reportedly worked at OpenAI since 2025, is scheduled for a detention hearing Monday in San Francisco.

While the complaint against Alfozan does not explicitly allege spying, Jay Clayton, the US director of national intelligence, previously implied national security implications in the case. The new court filing emphasizes that the government's investigation is ongoing and "may result in additional serious charges," highlighting the matter as "a concern for the national security of the United States." Prosecutors suggested Alfozan's motive could range from enriching himself through business prospects to aiding a foreign government, or both.

Communications cited in the filing include a WhatsApp exchange where the Saudi royal member wrote, "Saudi (Arabia) needs you more then [sic] the US," to which Alfozan responded "100," indicating agreement. Prosecutors also noted that Alfozan purchased a one-way ticket to Riyadh for October 12 prior to his arrest, presenting this as evidence of flight risk. His lawyer, William Pernik, disputes this, asserting Alfozan had a US naturalization interview set for November 6 and has frequently purchased one-way tickets since 2021. Pernik is seeking his client's release on bail.

Further complicating the case, Alfozan’s wife and their baby departed the United States on October 10, the day after his arrest. Prosecutors revealed that their tickets were paid for by a Saudi military official, underscoring that no extradition treaty exists between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

What to watch: The detention hearing and any potential new charges will be closely monitored.

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