MAWLANA the visionary, built a great nation in just three and half decades. The Omani today enjoys healthcare, education, safety & security and lifestyle that were none existent before the dawn of the Blessed Renaissance. In general the harmonious development that took and taking place is really praise worthy.

I regret to say it but the above peaceful order is slowly being eroded by allegations of corruption in high offices. It is in everyone’s lips here in Oman, that some high officials including ministers are engaged in high level corruptions. How true is this ? Yes it is rumored, gossiped and whispered in every talk shop all around the Sultanate. But does anyone have solid & tangible evidence enough to indict a high official ?

Corruption as it is being alleged, is eating into the fabrics of the Omani society, so, unless the scourge is stopped, we will be left with no society to live in. History has witnessed all the way back to Greek & Roman civilizations that greed, graft, nepotism, lack of transparency and corruption has brought down tumbling great civilizations. We don’t want to end up like those who did nothing about it ultimately causing their downfall.

Assuming the allegations are true, assuming we have corrupt officials or ministers, what do we do about it ? I do NOT believe moaning & lamenting about it will save our society. The remedy is in taking one step forward. After all what is being plundered and looted is public fund. Who is the PUBLIC? It’s YOU and I. State funds are public funds and public funds are yours and mine though it is administered by high official on our behalf.

We have state body called, the state audit bureau that goes round auditing state funds in ministries but I feel its mandate is not comprehensive. I know the president in person, and he is a clean man but activities of the bureau are limited to mid level officials. http://www.sgsa.com/ctus/CTUS_E.HTM

info@sgsa.com

http://www.sgsa.com/info/infoform.htm

What we require is a more powerful body that should report directly to MAWLANA.

So should we be aloof? Or mere observers? Or sheepish by standers while the nations wealth is being squandered by few greedy officials? Do you we want our kids to inherit a bankrupt state? Do we? If we don’t let’s take that crucial first step today and at least suggest as what should be done about it? Rather suggest what kind of action MAWLANA should take to absolve and exonerate the state from such damaging claims or indict the guilty [corrupt] party if there are any.

In your opinion, what kind of drastic action do you want the state to take? Should MAWLANA appoint a GOVERNANCE and ETHICS commissioner with a mandate to probe even ministers? Do we have such a clean person, to wield such immense power without fear or favour ? Or is it powerful graft buster, in the name of transparency and accountability inspector that we require ?

Please share your thoughts with me.

This is the kind of action we wish to see here.


Qatar probing alleged corruption in government: report
(AFP)

23 February 2005



DOHA - The Qatari judiciary is preparing to investigate alleged corruption by government officials involving the embezzlement of millions of riyals of public funds, a newspaper reported Wednesday.


The criminal court “will begin next Monday looking into three cases of embezzlement of millions of riyals (by officials from) the ministry of municipal affairs and agriculture,” Ash-Sharq said.

The same newspaper reported on Tuesday that the government’s audit bureau was investigating the squandering of public funds and that a decision had been taken to “place two officials under preventive arrest and interrogate a third.”

A number of people wanted for questioning in the case, in which more than 270 million dollars were misused, are currently abroad, Ash-Sharq said.

According to the newspaper, two former officials from the ministry of municipal affairs and agriculture are suspected of having diverted funds allocated for building roads to build private villas and a residential complex.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayartic...february698.xml

I think we already have a good base with majlis elshora and dawla, but what would really do a great impact is providing them with greater authority and questioning ability to the actions taken by the different ministries and how they preform.

----------

What is happening in Qatar, is quite interesting and the outcome of it would be even more interesting.

In Every Society they are Corrupted Official Up to the Level of the leaders themself. For Example Bush Decided to give a Contract to Halliburton/Brown Root to deliver and support post Iraq War, because Cheney has Interest in that company so as Bushes Father, The other scandal too happens to The Bliar... Corruption its all over. I feel The state should Introduce Capital Punishment to give a lesson to other not to dare touching Government Assets.

Dear Mti

The curruption in Oman is seen with your own eyes. Let's take an example of companies that takes contracts from the governments. Who do you think these companies belong to? Who do you think is giving them the contract and on what basis? Why are ministers having a lot of business? Where did they get such big amounts - apart from those who were administered while they were businessmen? A part from those who inherited from their families?

Well I guess these questions would bring the answers to your questions! You know I'm pretty sure if the Sultanate ever announces for curruptions to be reported with guarentee that people would be safe as they are always, then there would be a lot of curruptions that would be reported, plus the Sultanate should give that transperancy over media like in Qatar, Kuwat to ours. Thereafter you would see what comes and what goes in our nation.

And I guess you're right, not unless the puppets are removed from their positions the country would come into its best. Therefore we really need an agency that reports the curruption directly to His Majesty!

Yep, from lowly ROP person charging OR 50 to pass your driving test, up to the the top-end "was6a" for winning telecommunications contracts (yes HIM, and yes was6a IS corruption). It's a brake on economic progress.

yeah they should lobby thats the legal way of bribing

Sleyum,

Bush...Bush...Bush... what has he got to do with the above topic?

I guess capital punishment for those currupt officers are a good idea to stop it. Firstly my friends, let's go to the labor department:

1- I need visa for 3 laborers from India so can you issue me clearance please?!.
2- Sorry we have orders not to issue clearance for visas anymore.
1- Well sir please, I need the visas.
2- Do you know where is Shati hospital, before you reach there is cafe near by, meet me there.

at the meeting point:

1- Hello sir, how are you doing? bla bla bla
2- OK, now look i can issue you a visa, but i have to be given RO 300 for each visa.
1- Agreed, the company is owned by Bahwan, you know you help us now we'll help you always.
2- Oh' ok, so I look after you, and you look after me! Cool huh! Anyways, next week meet me at this same spot or keep in touch with me, here is my tel number, will inform you where to bring the things.
________________________________

Friends this is the smallest forms of curruption that is happening in the labor department. Of course everyone must be wondering how come labor department giving out visas, but you must be knowing that labor supply is done by clearance is given out by Labor Department.

Now let's go to MoW&E for example:

1-I'm submitting my tender for the so and so work or the so announced tender number.
2-Well then submit it Mr. and go ahead. You must have attached the money that is not refundable (tender board security amount).
1-Well before I submit, who should I contact to know what is the leasy price and least quality of pipes they're expecting, as we have the best pipes, the best flanges, and everything that meets the government requirement, and we're also happy to help those who help us.
2-Well move off, I would report you're trying to bribe me, go away (pushes the guy away and later tells him meet me at so and so place).
1-SO do we come to an agreement?
2-Look i don't want big amounts as its big time play, just give me an amount and i will get you closer to a person who could give you information. (they're playing together).
1-No problem, as long as we both are happy.
2-Alrite, next week in Sawadi resort (wherever).. I'll bring the person with me, and he will tell you what you want to know.
1-Cool, should I expect your call?
2-Yes I will let you know.

A week later:
2-Hello! Where are you?
1-I'm in so and so place. Yes sir what and how is everything going?
2-Meet me at so and so place please tonite itself at so and so time.
1-Ok
The night itself:
1- Hello, how are you all?
2- Meet 3, he is the one who wrote down the tender amounts (which is supposed to be opend only infront of the administration department actullay).
3-Hello! Let's get into business, you make me happy, i'll make you happy always, and as long as you make me happy i'll make you happy....
1-I'm pleased to meet you, so what info have you brought me?
3-no so fast, what would you give me out of this?
1-what would you like?
3-not much 10%?
1-5%?
3-15%
1-Sorry that is too much to give out... ok agreed on 10%
3-Good. You give me the amount in cash do not put that amount into bank account. I will announce your price the last one after announcing everyone's, and will make it the least... (price is written on the letter as something else, but the one given over the book is something else)..
1-Thanks you will get your amount where you wish!
___________________________

This is what mostly happens... well its not these people who should be blamed its also a big fault from the businessmen... As offering bribe. So I guess the punishment should be applicable for both side and should be capital punishment.

Its not that there is no curruption in all those developed countries, they too have but in only high positions, something Mr Mittel, the world's steel tycoon always agrees to! Refering to Tony Blair in aiding him giving the British Passport.... Anyways!!! Everything is happening everywhere!

Sleyum,

Bush...Bush...Bush... what has he got to do with the above topic?

I did not expect to be Question Why on Bush!!! :)
But I will Explain Why...
Bush has taken over weather we like it or not as A World Super PoliceMan,
so he is there watching the whole world and turns upside down the way he pleases and we Are Affected by his Arrogance Atitude and yet He is the World Number Corrupted leader!! read this one...


The US Army has awarded defence contractor Halliburton more than $9 million in bonuses for some of its work supporting the military in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
Military auditors have criticised those services as too costly and have asked the Texas-based company to justify its billing.
The Pentagon has also been criticised for extending undue favours to the firm, once headed by US Vice-President **** Cheney.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F1C74716-CF50-4F46-90A7-B8F06235A5A1.htm

mti You are living in a dream Land words !words !words ! action later ! later ! later! No rights but on paper ( the white book) still some government offices are favouring certain people . I could go on and on ....

Would an official be corrupt if he/she was homosaexual?

Welcome back DP !

31 sentenced for graft in ‘electricity fraud case’
Electricity under secretary, former ambassador
and expatriates among those punished
By Khoula al Hosni and A B Bishara
MUSCAT — The Criminal Court in Muscat yesterday convicted 31 people, Omanis as well as expatriates, charged with corruption in a court case known as "the electricity fraud case" and awarded them various prison terms and fines. The first suspect, the Electricity Under-Secretary, was handed a prison term totalling 17 years and was ordered to pay RO 70,000 as fines. He was also expelled from his job. Those convicted also included a former ambassador of the Sultanate to the United Kingdom.

A report appearing in today's issue of Oman, Arabic sister daily of the Oman Daily Observer, said that the suspects faced charges of bribery, forgery, misuse of job position and divulging professional secrets. The trial started in June this year. Before the hearing sessions began, the general manager of the Oman National Electricity Company, an Indian, managed to flee. This prompted the court to arrest all the suspects and seized their passports.

The corruption case investigation was triggered by a report by the International Auditing Bureau which had discovered some passing violations by the company. The bureau sent the list of violations to the Capital Market Authority which forwarded the case to the Royal Oman Police. The verdict issued by Muscat Criminal Court, headed by the court chairman Shaikh Mahmood al Rashdi, yesterday was as follows:

Hamad bin Ali al Rashdi and Salim bin Hamoud al Tauqi were each convicted of accepting bribes, and being involved in defalcation, forgery, misuse of job position and divulging professional secrets. They were each handed a composite 10-year imprisonment and RO 92,000 fine. They were also expelled from their jobs. Yunis bin Ali al Balushi and Mahmood Munawer Ali were each convicted of accepting bribes, and being involved in defalcation, forgery, misuse of job position and divulging professional secrets. Each were handed a composite imprisonment of 8 years and 4 months, RO 20,000 fine and they were expelled from their jobs.

Rodsbladman Kumar-asami was convicted of accepting bribes and misusing job status and was handed a five year prison term and ordered to pay RO 20,000 besides being expelled from his job. Merza Othman Beij, Sadavan Pillai, Koriath Mohnana Kumar and Sunil Kumar Singh were found guilty of offering bribes and misusing confidence. They were each sentenced to five year prison terms and ordered to pay RO 20,000.

Asians Islamallah Abdurrasheed, Mohammed Ali Abdulmunim, Beni Jacob, Sayed Mohammed Alamgeer, Ranjit Bersimour N Nair, G G Sivaramapillai were convicted of being associates of various other suspects and they were each handed 20 months or any other severer penalty. The court also ordered the deportation of all expatriate convicts and charging them with court fees.

The Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Electricity and Water (Abdullah bin Ali Dawood) was found guilty of accepting bribes, misusing job status and cancelling RO 2.5 million fine against the Oman National Electricity Company and the Irish Company on the account of a breakdown suffered by Generator No. 6 at Al Rusayl. For this crime, the court sentenced the Under-Secretary to 7 years in prison and ordered him to pay RO 20,000 besides his expulsion from his job.

Convict No. 13, Hussain bin Mohammed bin Ali (former ambassador of the Sultanate in the United Kingdom, Mohammed Ridha bin Hassan Al Abduwani, Saleh bin Hamoud al Rashdi and Mohammed Rahmi Mohammed Rashad (Egyptian) were convicted of forgery and misusing job status. Various other prison terms and fines were imposed on the convicts, each according to the grossness of the indivisual’s involvement in the fraud and corruption case. The convicts were transported to the Central Jail in Al Rumais.

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The convicts were transported to the Central Jail in Al Rumais

Nice Eid gift for such corrupt officials who abuse their positions to steel the country and Omani poor people.

The corruption case investigation was triggered by a report by the International Auditing Bureau which had discovered some passing violations by the company

Why the state audit bureau was not able to find out this, isn't this suppose to be part of their job?

Ofcourse it is a good start, what I would suggest to the state is to widen the net and climb up the ladder to bring to justice corrupt ministers too. ambassadors and undersecretaries are the middle cadre we should gun for higher cadre that is corrupt cabinet ministers.