The Justice Department says the former OpenAI engineer who was responsible for the implant recording device booked a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia.

According to the Department of Justice, Abdulrahman al-Fawzan was on a one-way flight to his native Saudi Arabia a few days before his federal arrest.

An OpenAI employee was arrested for planting a recording device in the conference room

A former OpenAI engineer accused of planting a recording device inside a conference room at the artificial intelligence giant's San Francisco office booked a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia days before his federal arrest, according to the Justice Department.

According to court documents, Abdulrahman al-Fawzan, a 35-year-old Saudi citizen, had booked a flight for Oct. 12 — days after his arrest — for himself, his wife and another relative.

Federal prosecutors cited his travel plans when asking a federal judge to seal the criminal complaint and arrest warrant against him, arguing that public knowledge of the case would make him likely to flee the country.

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It is stated in the court documents: the disclosure of the specified documents may jeopardize the arrest of the accused.

In an Arabic podcast last month, Alfozan recalled meeting Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a 2016 trip to Silicon Valley.

Alfozan said that he was thinking of returning to his country. In response, the prince advised young Saudis working in Silicon Valley to hone their skills at top tech companies before bringing their expertise back home, the New York Post reported.

Alfozan said in the podcast: "You learn from the source and, God willing, bring that experience and knowledge back to your country.

Alfozan was arrested on Oct. 9 and charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications, according to the Justice Department.

OpenAI discovered the encrypted device on Sept. 30 plugged into a USB port behind a television in a conference room used for "highly confidential" conversations involving proprietary research, product plans and business opportunities, federal prosecutors said.

The device, which was hidden in the toilet paper, was apparently installed two days ago. OpenAI traced the device to Alfozan, and security footage showed him several times near the conference room, officials said.

In addition, a chatbot associated with his wife was allegedly used to send messages about ways to install and hide recording devices.

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