Rest room paper and secret recorders: What we all know in regards to the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer

Alfozan had been employed as an engineer by OpenAI since July 2025. The grievance mentioned he was educated within the US and has been a authorized everlasting resident since 2020.

He was arrested by the FBI on 9 October and his contract with OpenAI has been terminated.

Alfozan’s lawyer William Pernik advised the BBC: “Like numerous Americans, Mr Alfozan got here to this nation years in the past as an adolescent with a dream.

“These allegations seem wholly out of character for him, and we’ll relentlessly examine all proof produced by the federal government on this case to know what truly occurred, who was accountable and any potential the explanation why.”

Pernik added: “In the meantime, we respectfully ask everybody to withhold judgment till full information turn into recognized. Like each one in every of us, Mr Alfozan is presumed harmless, and what has been made public is an accusation, not a discovering of guilt.”

On Tuesday, Alfozan made his preliminary look in a federal courtroom in California. A detention listening to is scheduled on 19 October to find out whether or not he ought to stay in custody whereas proceedings proceed.

The FBI investigation is ongoing.

If convicted, Alfozan faces a most penalty of 5 years in jail and a $250,000 (£190,000) superb.