Ex-officials summoned for probe |
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Sunday, Dec 06, 2009
Gulf News
Riyadh The higher committee, formed by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, to probe the Jeddah rainstorm disaster, has issued summons to a number of former officials of the mayoralty, who are now outside the Kingdom.
The move follows the directive issued earlier by the committee, headed by the Governor of Makkah, Prince Khalid Al Faisal, banning more than 70 municipality officials and directors of various departments from travelling outside the Kingdom. This travel ban is also applicable to a number of businessmen and leading real estate agents.
Prince Khalid chaired the first meeting of the committee yesterday, the first working day after the Eid Al Adha holidays.
The committee, comprising senior officials of ministries and departments concerned, is tasked with establishing the cause and trying to determine the responsibility for the death of more than 100 people and the massive damage to private and public properties.
Graft allegations
In a royal decree issued on Monday, King Abdullah had directed a thorough probe into all aspects of the problem in order to establish the precise cause and try and determine the responsibility. The monarch authorised the investigation committee to summon whoever it wanted for questioning and to form sub-committees to help in information gathering. The King had also ordered the committee to work full-time to submit its findings and recommendations.
Pursuant to the royal decree, the committee will examine the allegations of corruption raised against some officials, especially abuse of power, earning money by misusing power and inappropriate use of public wealth.
"If the committee would find fault with any top officials in the rank of ministers or deputy ministers, then their trial will not be held in local courts. Instead, special courts would be set up to conduct their trial," informed sources said.
Punishment
According to articles of the Basic Governing System with regard to disciplinary action against ministers, a special court shall be set up as per the order of the Prime Minister (the King). The court should comprise three ministers, in addition to two members in the rank of the head of a public court. The senior-most among the ministers in age shall be the head of the court, and a public prosecutor will also be appointed by the Prime Minister, the Al Watan Arabic daily reported quoting legal sources.
The higher committee's investigation and summoning of the officials will not be held publicly. "The role of the committee is to prepare the report and recommendations and present them to the King, who in turn will take appropriate decision on them," the sources said. Dr Omar Al Khouli, legal consultant at the Saudi Human Rights Commission, noted that if any top official, including minister, was found responsible for the catastrophe, he will get jail terms ranging from three to 10 years.
By Abdul Rahman Shaheen
© Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
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