An appeals court in Riyadh sentenced 24 citizens and residents with money-laundering, with amounts reaching nearly 17 billion riyals (453.3 million dollars).

They were sentenced to up to 20 years in jail.

The accused citizens have been barred from travel, while the non-Saudis will be deported when they finish serving their sentence.

They were all fined 75 million riyals (20 million dollars) and the money they had laundered was seized.

The accused had carried out their illicit activity through various factories, companies, institutions and even medical clinics.

Some were directly accused of money-laundering and others of working as their accomplices, who would collect the money and transfer them abroad.

Several of the charged were accused of knowing of the illegal activity and failing to alert the authorities. They had agreed to abet the perpetrators and were also charged with bribery.