According to a prosecution official, four expatriates have been sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined SR125,000 each for counterfeiting money.

As a result of their possession of counterfeit SR8,700 and electronic equipment to print banknotes, the four Asians were charged by the kingdom's Economic Crime Prosecution with forming a criminal group.

The four were convicted and sentenced to five years in prison each, as well as confiscated the equipment seized.

Upon serving their terms, the court ordered their deportation from the kingdom.

Prosecution efforts are being made to ensure that the monetary process in the kingdom is protected from illegal practices, according to the source. When the case unraveled was not immediately clear.

Earlier this week, the Saudi prosecution sentenced two Arab expatriates to six years in prison and fined them SR200,000 for money laundering.

A prosecution source said the duo amassed fabulous money from unlawful practices and smuggled it out of the country.

In addition to confiscating money seized with both defendants estimated at SR3.3 million, as well as an unspecified cache of foreign currencies and revenues derived from the crime, a court ordered the confiscation of their property.

Additionally, they will be deported from Saudi Arabia after serving their sentences and will not be allowed to return.

Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia, which has about 34.8 million people, has intensified its crackdown on graft.