Plant project referred to prosecution over corruption charges

KUWAIT: Responding to State Audit Bureau remarks and in an effort to boost fighting corruption, transparency and fighting violators, the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) referred the Egaila drainage plant project to the public prosecution. In this regard, informed sources said MPW made direct accusations against 12 of its officials, including engineers and heads of departments responsible for the project. The sources added that the Audit Bureau had recommended holding the team in charge of the project accountable last year but referral to the public prosecution was delayed because the minister ordered forming a special investigation committee to scrutinize the accusations.

“The project cost state treasury an extra KD 39 million, in addition to KD 28 million in operation and maintenancerelated problems,” the sources explained, noting that the abovementioned violations had been committed in the period of 2006 to 2009, during which the total area the project covered was reduced from 360,000 sq m to only 180,000 sq m. In addition, the sources said the public prosecution might summon more former MPW officials for testimony and that more suspects may be found to be involved.

Sentence upheld

The court of cassation yesterday upheld a verdict to imprison former National Islamic Alliance secretary general Hussein Al-Maatouq (in absentia) to five years in jail over charges of covering up suspects accused of espionage with Iran. Maatouq had fled to Iran after other suspects had been arrested in the Abdaly case and is still there. Meanwhile, the court of appeal annulled a previous verdict sentencing two suspects to seven years in prison and acquitted them of charges of forging Kuwaiti citizenship.

Salaries received

The Ministry of Education’s services department manager Fahd Al-Hayyan stressed that all hospitality company employees who protested outside the ministry Sunday have received their overdue salaries from the company and underlined that ministry will never tolerate such practices by contracted companies.