Former OpenAI engineer detained as prosecutors cite Saudi ties

A federal judge ruled on October 19, 2026, that Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer, must stay in custody pending trial. He faces one count of illegally intercepting oral communications, punishable by up to five years, and is not charged with espionage or stealing trade secrets. Prosecutors cited his links to Saudi royal family members and a Saudi consulate-backed bond offer that US Magistrate Judge Alex Tse questioned; his lawyer denied the spying accusation and disputed flight-risk arguments. OpenAI said it found no indications of improper access to model weights, source code or customer data, and Alfozan’s next hearing is scheduled for November 6, 2026.