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Govt probes two on corruption at Nakheel

DUBAI - A former employee of real-estate developer Nakheel is under investigation over alleged bribetaking, following a government announcement to crackdown on corruption and other financial wrongdoings.

This brought to two the number of persons being investigated over alleged acceptance of bribes at Nakheel, builder of Dubai’s man-made palm-shaped islands and another set in the shape of a world map, according to a company official on Tuesday.

A Nakheel spokesperson also issued a statement stressing that the company conducts regular internal audits in the interest of good corporate governance.

“As a result of this internal audit process, the company can confirm that a former member of staff is being interviewed by authorities in relation to acceptance of inducements from third parties,” said the statement. “No other members of staff are being interviewed and it would be inappropriate to comment further on this issue.” On Friday Nakheel issued a statement confirming that authorities were investigating a current employee over alleged acceptance of bribes from another party. It stressed, however, that no embezzlement had taken place within Nakheel. “The allegation of financial irregularities is in relation to the acceptance of sums paid to an employee by third parties,” said the company on Friday, denying a report by London-based MEED magazine that about Dh3 billion had been embezzled from Nakheel.

jose@khaleejtimes.com