Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANAMA424
2009-07-13 12:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
FORMER GOB OFFICIAL CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION
how-toVZCZCXRO5784 RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHMK #0424 1941255 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 131255Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8807 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS MANAMA 000424
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, EEB, AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON BA
SUBJECT: FORMER GOB OFFICIAL CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION
UNCLAS MANAMA 000424
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, EEB, AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON BA
SUBJECT: FORMER GOB OFFICIAL CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION
1. (U) On July 6, the High Criminal Court found Issa Al
Thawadi, former CEO of the quasi-governmental Housing Bank,
guilty of embezzling 1.5 million BD ($4 million) between 1998
and 2002. The court sentenced Thawadi to 10 years'
imprisonment, imposed a 34,000 BD ($90,100) fine, and ordered
him to compensate the bank 621,000 BD ($1,645,650). The
court also convicted the former CFO, a British national,
levied the same fines, and sentenced him to five years'
imprisonment followed by deportation. The bank's Bahraini
chief auditor was cleared of all charges.
2. (U) Thawadi served as the CEO of the Housing Bank under
both late Emir Isa and King Hamad. Then-Minister of Housing
Fahmi Al Jowder brought the case against him 2004, shortly
after the office of the Public Prosecutor was established.
3. (SBU) Comment: While it took five years for this complex
case to make its way through the justice system, it
represents a success for the King's reform project and
related anti-corruption efforts. For the first time, a
senior official with close ties to the ruling family faced
corruption charges in court and was convicted. Since this
case began three other high-profile corruption cases have
been filed. Last year, two of them (one against parastatal
ASRY's senior management, and one against nine Ministry of
Industry and Commerce employees) saw convictions, while the
third, involving aluminum producer ALBA, continues to wind
its way through the courts.
********************************************* ********
Visit EMBASSY Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
ERELI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, EEB, AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON BA
SUBJECT: FORMER GOB OFFICIAL CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION
1. (U) On July 6, the High Criminal Court found Issa Al
Thawadi, former CEO of the quasi-governmental Housing Bank,
guilty of embezzling 1.5 million BD ($4 million) between 1998
and 2002. The court sentenced Thawadi to 10 years'
imprisonment, imposed a 34,000 BD ($90,100) fine, and ordered
him to compensate the bank 621,000 BD ($1,645,650). The
court also convicted the former CFO, a British national,
levied the same fines, and sentenced him to five years'
imprisonment followed by deportation. The bank's Bahraini
chief auditor was cleared of all charges.
2. (U) Thawadi served as the CEO of the Housing Bank under
both late Emir Isa and King Hamad. Then-Minister of Housing
Fahmi Al Jowder brought the case against him 2004, shortly
after the office of the Public Prosecutor was established.
3. (SBU) Comment: While it took five years for this complex
case to make its way through the justice system, it
represents a success for the King's reform project and
related anti-corruption efforts. For the first time, a
senior official with close ties to the ruling family faced
corruption charges in court and was convicted. Since this
case began three other high-profile corruption cases have
been filed. Last year, two of them (one against parastatal
ASRY's senior management, and one against nine Ministry of
Industry and Commerce employees) saw convictions, while the
third, involving aluminum producer ALBA, continues to wind
its way through the courts.
********************************************* ********
Visit EMBASSY Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
ERELI