LIV Golf chairman facing £58million lawsuit

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of LIV Golf and the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is being sued over alleged “direct” involvement in a “malicious” campaign instructed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. 

The Athletic has reported that PIF governor Al-Rumayyan received legal papers at several locations last week, including St James’ Park, the home of PIF-owned Newcastle United.

Former Saudi Arabian intelligence officer Dr. Saad Aljabri is seeking $74million (£58m) in damages over the treatment of his family after fleeing the country for Turkey and later defecting to Canada.

Aljabri has accused Al-Rumayyan of carrying out Bin Salman’s instructions with “the malicious intent” of “harming, silencing and ultimately destroying” his family.

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Before fleeing Saudi, Aljabri reported to former Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted by Bin Salman in 2017 and has been in detention since 2020.

Now, in a legal case brought to Canadian courts, Aljabri has claimed that the defendants, including Al-Rumayyan, had “direct” involvement in a three-and-a-half year campaign against his family.

The Athletic reports that these orders included “wrongful kidnapping and detention,” “misappropriation of property” and the “expropriation of companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars into PIF hands.”

Two of Aljabri’s children were reportedly detained in 2020 for “security reasons.” Aljabri’s son Omar is serving a nine-year sentence while his daughter Sarah was sentenced to just under seven years.

Aljabri has had no contact with his children since their imprisonment and the lawsuit alleges that Al-Rumayyan was involved in bringing criminal proceedings against them to punish him.

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Documents sent to Al-Rumayyan and others have asked the Canadian court to add the defendants into an existing court case, as well as the fresh lawsuit brought against them.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.