Amazon stalls $1 billion deal with Saudi after Khashoggi's murder

ties between world's biggest store, Amazon and world's second-biggest oil producer, Saudi Arabia has been reportedly frozen ever since Saudi operatives killed Jamal Khashoggi. An Amazon official told international media that Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder r any of his top executives will t be attending investment conference in Riyh on October 29 which will also be marking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's return to world st. However, neir Saudi or Amazon has declared that partnership has been stalled. 

According to reports, Amazon was all set to finalise a $1 billion deal with Saudi Arabia to build three data centres. It was likely to be anunced during Crown Prince's visit to United States in early 2018. However, freeze also came after Bezos waves of criticism from Saudi-based online trolls after National Enquirer published an expose earlier this year detailing Bezos's extramarital affair. Amazon CEO later claimed that he was target of “extortion and blackmail” by Enquirer who threatened to publish revealing personal photos of him.

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Bezos accuses Saudi government

billionaire in March accused Saudi government of having access to his phone and gaining private information from it. A longtime security consultant, Gavin De Becker concluded his investigation into publication in January of leaked text messs between Bezos and a former television anchor Lauren Sanchez, who National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating. Reporting chief’s extramarital affair with Sanchez, his intimate text messs and photos me ir way into hands of Enquirer, leing to his divorce.

investigations carried out by Bezos security consultant pointed out Saudi involvement in his blackmail scandal. "Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that Saudis h access to Bezos' phone, and gained private information," De Becker wrote. "As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of details." t specified by De Becker as to which part of Saudi government he was blamed for hack. However, he gave a few details about investigation leing to conclusion which accounted kingdom being responsible in act.

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(With ncy inputs)