Prosecutors: Ex-OpenAI engineer planned to flee to Saudi Arabia

Former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, accused of planting a recording device in a conference room, was days away from leaving for Saudi Arabia before his arrest, federal prosecutors said. They are seeking to detain him until trial, noting Saudi Arabia has no extradition treaty with the U.S.

• Alfozan joined OpenAI in July 2025 and was fired after his arrest
• The device was found on Sept. 30 in an executive conference room
• Prosecutors say his wife and son left for Saudi Arabia the day after his arrest
• He faces up to five years in prison if convicted