A federal judge ordered former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan held without bail on Monday after prosecutors argued he posed a flight risk due to alleged ties to Saudi Arabia’s government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex Tse ruled in San Francisco that Alfozan, a U.S. permanent resident, must remain in custody while awaiting trial on charges of intercepting communications. Prosecutors claimed the Saudi consulate had offered to fund his release through a bail bonds firm, calling it a “blank check” that raised concerns about his commitment to stay in the country. “I find that problematic,” Tse said, questioning whether Alfozan was an “asset” for the kingdom. Defense attorney William Pernik called the flight risk concerns baseless but failed to persuade the judge.
Alfozan, who appeared in court in an orange prison uniform, was fired by OpenAI earlier this month after the company discovered a hidden recording device in a conference room used for confidential meetings. The device, found in late September, was allegedly placed by Alfozan behind a TV in a wad of toilet paper. He faces up to five years in prison, with prosecutors indicating additional charges may follow.
Court filings reveal Alfozan was in frequent WhatsApp contact with an unidentified member of the Saudi royal family in 2025 and 2026, who allegedly recruited him for a job on a forthcoming AI initiative. “Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!” the royal wrote in May, to which Alfozan reportedly replied, “100.” Authorities also allege the Saudi government bought a plane ticket for Alfozan’s wife and infant son to return to the country days after his arrest; she left earlier on a separate flight booked by her sister’s husband, a Saudi navy employee.
Prosecutors further cited a folder labeled “Saudi Gov Docs” on Alfozan’s devices and conversations with an AI chatbot about setting up listening devices. Alfozan had worked for a Saudi venture capital firm and offered consulting services to Saudi companies, according to authorities. Pernik maintained there was no evidence of spying, noting the conference room was accessible to anyone. The FBI declined to comment on whether Alfozan’s wife would face charges.
