Yasir Al-Rumayyan, head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the de facto head of LIV Golf, has been accused of “having carried out the instructions” of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with “malicious intent” according to a lawsuit filed in Canada. The story was first reported by the Athletic.
The lawsuit is being attempted by Dr. Saad Aljabri, a former intelligence officer who defected to Canada after fleeing the country. It concerns the way his family was treated. Before either of his children was set to continue their education in the US, two of them were detained in 2020 on the grounds of “security concerns.” Aljabri’s daughter, Sarah, is serving a sentence of slightly less than seven years, while her son, Omar, was sentenced to nine years. Neither Aljabri’s daughter nor son had the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses during their trial. Since their incarceration, the family has not been in communication with their children.
Aljabri charges Al-Rumayyan with direct involvement in several allegations in the lawsuit. The Athletic claims that these include coordinating actions to carry out a purported campaign that involves “wrongful kidnapping and detention,” “misappropriation of property,” and “expropriation” of businesses valued at hundreds of millions of dollars into PIF’s possession. According to the outlet, Al-Rumayyan initiated legal action against the Aljabri children as retaliation for Dr. Aljabri’s betrayal.
Al-Rumayyan is regarded as the brains behind the Golf Saudi and LIV Golf projects and is a member of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s inner circle. Al-Rumayyan was the one who mediated a framework agreement between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, and board members Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy. The agreement put an end to a year-long, bitter dispute in the professional game. In addition, he and Monahan made an appearance in a televised interview on CNBC to reveal the proposed deal.
Al-Rumayyan has claimed in the past that his actions “fall within the commercial activity exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act,” which grants him protection under sovereign immunity laws. But a federal magistrate judge disregarded that claim earlier this year.
The lawsuit was announced at the same time that PIF and the PGA Tour are trying to close a deal by April. Al-Rumayyan has reassured LIV Golf staff and members that the league will continue, despite the PGA Tour’s insistence that it controls LIV Golf’s future as part of the proposed deal. Additionally, language in the framework agreement, which was made public by Congress, may grant Al-Rumayyan the last word in the matter. Al-Rumayyan is also anticipated to serve as chairman of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF’s newly formed for-profit company.
