Formerly OpenAI Engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan must remain in custody pending trial, a federal judge ruled Monday after raising concerns about his ties to Saudi Arabia.

U.S. prosecutors argue that Alfozan is a flight risk because the Saudi government has offered to support him unconditionally. They cited the Saudi consulate’s offer to work with a bail bond company to finance his release.

Judge Questions Saudi Government Support

Federal Judge Alex Tse questioned whether Alfozan was an “asset” to the Saudi government and whether government-backed bail could ensure that he remained in the United States.

“I think that’s a problem,” Tse said. “It’s like a blank check: ‘If the court wants to release him, we’ll pay whatever it takes.’ I’m more interested in what people in his family want to contribute assets.”

Alfozan’s lawyer, William Pernik, dismissed the flight-risk concerns as unfounded. However, he was unable to convince the judge that Alfozan was committed to remaining in the United States.

“There is a real threat here that if he leaves, the case will end,” Tse said.

OpenAI Conference Room Allegations Draw International Attention

Alfozan appeared in Tse’s San Francisco courtroom Monday wearing an orange prison uniform and a medical mask around his neck. The courtroom was crowded with journalists, students on field trips and about 20 people supporting him.

Employees in Silicon Valley frequently face allegations involving the theft of sensitive company information. Alfozan’s case has attracted international attention because of allegations of amateur espionage and the geopolitical tensions surrounding it.

Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive. They have noted, however, that Alfozan works for a Saudi venture capital firm, provides consulting services to Saudi companies and is likely friendly with people in the upper echelons of the Saudi government.

Defense Denies Alfozan Was Spying for Saudi Arabia

Pernik said there was no evidence that Alfozan was spying or acting secretly on behalf of Saudi Arabia.

“He didn’t sneak in under cover of darkness,” Pernik said of the OpenAI conference room. “This was an open room where anyone could work.”

After the hour-long hearing, Pernik told reporters that he was disappointed with the custody ruling and planned to continue fighting the case.

Prosecutors Cite Ties to Saudi Royal Family

Alfozan is a permanent resident of the United States and was on a path to becoming a citizen. His ties to Saudi Arabia, however, have drawn scrutiny.

Prosecutors allege that Alfozan “frequently communicated via WhatsApp” with members of the Saudi royal family between 2025 and 2026.