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A Saudi military official paid to fly home the family of an ex-OpenAI engineer accused of bugging the firm, prosecutors claim

A Saudi military official paid to fly home the family of an ex-OpenAI engineer accused of bugging the firm, prosecutors claim

Abdulrahman Alfozan's wife, Lujain Alassaf, and their three-month-old son left San Francisco on a non-return business class ticket just 36 hours after his FBI arrest. The 35-year-old Saudi national was denied bail on Monday after a judge deemed him a flight risk. Prosecutors say he had a flight to Riyadh booked for 12 October — three days after his arrest.

A Saudi royal allegedly sent him a text reading: 'Saudi needs you more then the US!' He replied '100'.

The recorder was plugged into a TV in an executive room and concealed beneath toilet paper.

Alfozan earned $385,000 a year at OpenAI and received a $2.2 million equity grant.

MoreFinancial TimesOpenAI employee accused of bugging had links to Saudi royals, prosecutors claimNYTSaudis Aided Family of Engineer Accused of Bugging OpenAI, Prosecutors SayAPEx-OpenAI worker accused of bugging conference room planned to fly to Saudi Arabia, prosecutors sayCBS NewsEx-OpenAI engineer accused of planting bug in office was in contact with Saudi royal family, preparing to leave U.S.BBC News - BusinessEx-OpenAI worker accused of planting device had Saudi support, says court filingFox NewsHow a foreign government helped accused Saudi spy's family flee US after OpenAI bug scandalReutersEx-OpenAI employee accused of planting device appears to have Saudi backing, US prosecutors sayNY PostSaudi military official paid for OpenAI ‘spy’s’ wife and son to fly back to kingdom: docs
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