Suspected of an OpenAI Secret Meeting · Global Voices

An industrial spy case involving an OpenAI engineer from Saudi Arabia, Abdulraman Alphazan (35), entered a new chapter.

Federal Judge Alex Tse refused to offer raw bail from the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles who was willing to pay bail in any amount to free Alfozan, because judging the risk of his escape overseas suspect is extremely high.

Alphazan was arrested without bail by the San Francisco Federal Court, the United States, on suspicion of planting an audio wiretap device hidden in the executive conference room of OpenAI headquarters.

According to the U.S. Attorney's indictment document, Alphazan allegedly installed a bug device hidden in a USB port behind television in the executive conference room of OpenAI San Francisco on September 28, 2026.

The room is a crucial area used by the head of OpenAI to discuss technical secrets, copyright research, strategic direction of the company, until a secret meeting with high-ranking U.S. officials.

Alfozan's actions smelled after OpenAI's internal team discovered the alien device on September 30, 2026:

The prosecution announced that Alfozan intensively communicated via WhatsApp through 2025 to 2026 with a member of the Saudi Arab royal family.

In that conversation, the prince repeatedly tried to recruit Alphazan to lead the national AI initiative in Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi needs you more than the U.S.!" wrote the prince in a message in May 2026. "100%," Alfozan replied agreed.

Just days after Alfozan was arrested, his three-month-old wife and baby were immediately flown out of the United States to Qatar on a business class flight funded by Saudi military members.

In the court, the Saudi Consulate states his willingness to guarantee Alphazan as well as bear the full bail fee set by the court. However, Judge Alex Tse assessed the offer as "blank check" which does not provide a guarantee of legal safety for the U.S. government.

"The Saudi government claims to be watching and paying bail... But what belief do I have that they will protect the interests of the U.S. government so that he doesn't escape?" firm Judge Tse, highlighted that the U.S. doesn't have an extradition agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Alfozan's salary at OpenAI has reached 385,000 dollars per year plus the budget of USD 2.2 million is now floating after OpenAI officially fired him. If found guilty on charges of illegal communication interception, Alfozan is threatened with the maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, with a greater potential of indictment as the investigation into the national security threat remains, thus quoted seconds from CNBC, Tuesday (20 / 10 / 2026).