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Monday 23 Dec 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Former Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Ziyadh Bagir. (Photo/President's Office)
Former Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Ziyaadh is to be charged over corruption allegations relating to the agreement to award the construction of the Dhaaruhzikraa mosque (Zikra Mosque) to SJ Construction.
The case was forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The case also seeks to bring charges against Ibrahim Abdulla Saeed who served as the head of the Endowment section of the Ministry at the time.
The case forwarded by the ACC reads that the Islamic Ministry requested permission to construct the Zikra Mosque on two occasions to the President’s Office before the month of Ramadan in 1439.
The Ministry, before being officially granted permission then forwarded information containing three proposals specifically stating that the proposal of SJ Construction as the one with the most convenience to the state to the President’s Office.
The letters were sent by the then Islamic Minister Dr. Ziyaadh to the President’s Office, however, the case by the ACC read that Ministry records did not show how the proposals were obtained.
The procedure for the project was irregular and Ministry employees usually involved in such projects and proposal work was not involved in any manner in the particular project.
Evidence and witness statements pertained relating to the ACC investigation had shown that the project was aimed at providing unfair advantages to a certain party which could bring about charges against Dr. Ziyaadh. The charges to be brought against Dr. Ziyaadh include misconduct in an official capacity and misuse of the official capacity and official information in the Penal Code.
The investigation also found that the agreement and project procedure was in fact not beneficial to the state, which resulted in massive losses to the state and unfair advantages to the SJ Construction company. The charges against Dr. Ziyaadh also stem from the Anti-corruption Act, and request the Prosecutor General’s Office to bring forth the charges.
