RIYADH: The Saudi Economic Crimes Prosecution has arrested an organized criminal gang consisting of citizens and four Arab expatriates. The group is under investigation on charges of counterfeiting money. The gang members will be referred to a specialized court after legal procedures are completed, a Public Prosecution official said. Investigation procedures revealed that the perpetrators had set up a dedicated room equipped with electronic machines to print fake banknotes. The perpetrators will face prison sentences of up to 25 years and fines of up to SR500,000 ($133,000), per article two of the penal code for counterfeiting money. The official stressed that counterfeiting is among the major crimes that require arrest and severe penalties, adding that the Public Prosecution is relentless in protecting monetary financial transactions from all forms of crime. “The Public Prosecution will not hesitate to apply regulations against anyone who attempts to undermine monetary financial security and the national economy,” said the official. Last week, 11 people were sentenced to a combined 65 years in prison after being found guilty of embezzling public funds. The defendants, some of whom were expatriates, were charged with buying large quantities of government-subsidized diesel through several gas stations that they owned, and then selling the fuel to buyers outside the country. They also committed a number of other crimes, including money laundering, counterfeiting and violating banking control rules. As well as receiving prison sentences, the suspects had the profits of their criminal activity seized and were fined in excess of SR29 million. The gas stations linked to the crime were also stripped of licensing and banned from dealing with public entities in the future.